Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti

Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti

No canned soups were harmed in the making of this chicken spaghetti recipe, which showcases a whole bird. Other than requiring a little time, this recipe is dead simple. Just be sure to undercook your pasta by at least a minute, since it'll finish cooking in hot sauce for a few more minutes. This is a critical step, and allows all those flavors to get sucked up by the still hydrating spaghetti. Garnish with a little more Pecorino Romano cheese and basil.

Preparation Time
20 mins
Cooking Time
2 hr
Total Time
2 hr 20 mins
Calories
850 Calories

Recipe Instructions

Step 1
Place chicken in a pot and pour marinara sauce on top. Add water and anchovies. Bring to a simmer, uncovered, over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer, without stirring, for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Step 2
Transfer chicken to a bowl using tongs. Let cool to the touch.
Step 3
Meanwhile, bring sauce to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cook, skimming off the fat from the surface, until sauce is reduced by at least half, 20 to 35 minutes.
Step 4
Tear off chicken meat by hand and transfer to a bowl, breaking the pieces into your desired size.
Step 5
Add the chicken, red pepper flakes, and salt to the reduced sauce. Cook and stir until chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes. Keep on low heat while you cook the pasta.
Step 6
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water according to package instructions, reducing time by 1 minute, about 11 minutes. Drain and return to the pot; reduce heat to low.
Step 7
Add the chicken sauce and Pecorino Romano to the pasta. Sprinkle in basil and add butter. Stir until butter melts, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and add remaining Pecorino Romano cheese. Cover and let sit for 1 minute. Stir and serve.
Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti
Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti
Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti
Chef John's Chicken Spaghetti

Ingredients

  • 6 cups water
  • 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 2 anchovy fillets
  • 2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced basil leaves
  • 1 (4.5 pound) whole chicken, giblets removed
  • 1 tablespoon cold butter (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Categories

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