Penne Rustica

If you're a fan of the penne rustica dish at Macaroni Grill®, try your hand at this copycat recipe to recreate it at home.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 636 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup milk
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 cups heavy cream
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme
• ½ pound cooked small shrimp
• ½ cup chopped prosciutto
• 2 teaspoons olive oil, or to taste
• 3 tablespoons Marsala wine
• 1 tablespoon brown mustard
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl; mix in shrimp and prosciutto.

Step 3

Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Brush olive oil over chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 5 minutes per side. Cool briefly before slicing into strips. Add to the penne mixture.

Step 4

Prepare the sauce by melting butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic, cover, and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Pour in Marsala wine and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, milk, chicken broth, cornstarch, mustard, rosemary, thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, about 10 minutes.

Step 5

Pour sauce over the penne mixture and mix well. Transfer to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and paprika over the top.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until the top slightly browns, 10 to 12 minutes.