CHICKEN ALFREDO STUFFED SHELLS

Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells image

Filled with ricotta and tender chicken-thigh meat, these stuffed shells are the best vessel for our beloved-and ultra-creamy-alfredo sauce yet!

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
30 jumbo pasta shells
3 cups (24 ounces) whole-milk ricotta
2 cups (8 ounces) Italian blend shredded cheese
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
2 pinches ground nutmeg
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 large leek, white and light-green parts only, thinly sliced into half-moons
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan
Chopped fresh chives, for serving

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta shells according to package directions for al dente. Drain and run under cold water until cool enough to touch.
Mix the ricotta, 1 cup of the Italian blend cheese, the red pepper flakes, lemon zest, 1 pinch of the nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds black pepper together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is just cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and add the leek to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes.
Pour the wine into the pot and stir to scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil and reduce until completely evaporated, stirring. Lower the heat to medium, pour in the cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in the Parmesan, the remaining pinch nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds black pepper. Remove from the heat.
Fold the chicken and its juices from the plate into the ricotta mixture. Spread 1 cup of the cream sauce onto the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. Fill each pasta shell with a spoonful of ricotta mixture. Arrange the stuffed shells, seam-side up, shingling them so they all fit (you should have 5 shells along the short side and 6 shells along the long side). Ladle the remaining sauce over the top, then sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup Italian cheese blend and cover with aluminum foil.
Bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the cheese and tops of noodles start to turn golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before sprinkling with some chives and more red pepper flakes.