Pasta Milano Macaroni Grill Copycat – A homemade version of Macaroni Grill’s Pasta Milano. A creamy garlic and sundried tomato sauce, with chicken and mushrooms, over bowtie pasta
I love going out to lunch and dinner. I mean, who doesn’t? But sometimes it is just too much work. Driving there, waiting for a table, all of the other crazy people around, and sometimes having to deal with the sub-par wait staff. So, as much as I like a night off, sometimes I just want to stay home! And I love making some of my favorite restaurant favorites at home!
When we lived in Minnesota (seems like a lifetime ago) we had a Macaroni Grill in town. It was one of my favorite restaurants. I loved their Pasta Milano. In Iowa we did not have one, and now in Colorado the one in town is less than a stellar location. So I haven’t really been there in a long time. That means I have to make my own version of my favorite Pasta Milano at home! With some Cheesy Garlic Bread on the side for good measure.
My version of Pasta Milano is a little lightened up from the original. Feel free to use more butter and heavy cream if you want it rich and super creamy. I want to be able to enjoy it more often, so I go just a little lighter. It comes together in about 25 minutes too, so it is great for a quick weeknight dinner.
Pasta Milano is a great one skillet meal that the whole family will devour. Plus, the leftovers are great for lunch the next day. I served with a salad and a little crusty bread for a complete meal. I am always a sucker for sun-dried tomatoes in a sauce like this Sun Dried Tomato Shrimp Pasta that is so light and creamy.
I love homemade versions of restaurant favorites. It really just means that you can enjoy them more often! It can be drinks, dinners, appetizers, or even desserts. I love making them all, and this pasta milano is such great dinner the whole family enjoys.
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Pasta Milano (Copycat Macaroni Grill)
A homemade version of Macaroni Grill's Pasta Milano. A creamy garlic and sundried tomato sauce, with chicken and mushrooms, over bowtie pasta.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken, , cut into bit sized pieces
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 (12 oz) package mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup onion, , finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, , minced
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, , chopped
- 1 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 1 Tbls butter
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 Tbls fresh basil, , finely chopped
- 1 pound Farfalle, (bowtie pasta)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add chicken, cook for 5-6 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Remove from pan, and keep warm.
- Return pan to heat. Add mushrooms, onions, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes. Cook until onions are tender and the mushrooms are golden brown. Season with salt and pepper. Add chicken back to the pan.
- In a 2 cup measuring cup combine half-and-half, butter, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and basil. Pour over chicken and mushroom mixture. Bring to a simmer, stirring to combine. Cook for 3-4 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Add cooked pasta to the pan, and toss to coat.
- Serve immediately. Top with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per ServingCalories 623 Saturated Fat 10g Cholesterol 90mg Sodium 257mg Carbohydrates 67g Fiber 4g Sugar 6g Protein 30g
Erin S
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Cynthia/What A Girl Eats says
This looks so yummy! I can almost taste all the great flavors!
Peabody (Culinary Concoctions by Peabody) says
What a great week night meal to add to my rotation.
Christiane ~ Taking On Magazines says
Nope, can’t say I’ve ever heard of Lego Robotics, but I have a girl who has absolutely no interest in anything Lego. She finds them obnoxious. 🙂 The pasta dish on the other hand, that’s awesome. On this cold, rainy day, it’s pure comfort food.
Ginny McMeans says
This is going to go over big in my family.
Meagan+@+A+Zesty+Bite says
Macaroni grill is a favorite of mine. Love this copycat recipe from there.
Michelle+@+The+Complete+Savorist says
This looks amazing. Hits all my happy places at once.
Brandie says
I’ve never ate at Macaroni Grill (hard to believe), but this would totally be the type of meal I would order if I saw this on their menu. Will definitely be putting this on my to-make list.
Andi says
I saw this on Instagram and had to check it out! It looks so warm and satisfying!
Erin S says
Thanks Andi!
Thalia+@+butter+and+brioche says
This pasta looks so incredibly delicious.. definitely perfect for a weeknight meal. Thanks for sharing the recipe, you can consider that I will be recreating it!
Joanne says
Sometimes I think takeout at home is even BETTER than actual takeout. This pasta sounds great!! Hopefully it keeps you fueled through all those lego sessions….
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I haven’t been to a Macaroni Grill but this looks insanely delicious. I love creamy and garlicky pasta sauces!
Beth @ The First Year says
What?! You lived in Minnesota? I am from MN but live in Illinois right now! I love Macaroni Grill, great recipe!
Erin S says
I lived around the Cities until I was 10, then after college I lived in Rochester for a few years. Now in Colorado! Small world!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Wow that sounds like an insane amount of work for 4th graders. Good for you! I’m all about quick and easy options for the dinner routine. This looks amazing. Love that it’s a little lighter too!
The Food Hunter says
looks good
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
I could absolutely destroy this whole bowl of deliciousness!!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
This looks like a dish I could all the time! I love sun dried tomatoes 🙂
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
I’ve never heard of lego robotics but I sure like what I see with this dish! Yummy. 🙂
Deanna says
This looks really yummy. I’m looking forward to making it sometime.
I didn’t do lego robotics in middle school, but I did join my school’s robotics team in high school. Actually, our team was not affiliated with our school; we were a Boy Scouts venture crew, but most of our members were from my school, so it was basically the same thing, but we played up our freedom to recruit from other schools a lot. It was seriously a lot of fun helping the rest of my team design/build/program the big 120 lb. machines the high school level teams make. Our team was very big on the students doing all of the work instead of the mentors, so we all learned a lot of useful skills. Is your son’s team a FIRST team?
Erin S says
Thanks Deanna! His team was part of the First Lego League. They loved it, and did such a great job. Great organization!
M Williams says
This recipe sounds amazing and I have always enjoyed Macaroni Grill! Have you or anyone tried a “healthier” version with substitutions for the half & half, butter, etc.??? I would love any suggestions!!!
Erin S says
I have only tried it as written. 1 Tbls of butter for an entire recipe does not bother me. I have seen similar recipes that use a ton more butter and heavy cream. This is my lightened up version of those.
Julie Graham says
More than 10 years ago, my son worked at MG and introduced me to Pasta Milano. Hadn’t had it in years as the restaurant is no longer convenient to where I live. A few days ago, my family got together at a new location close to home and it was “okay.” The biggest disappointment was that they no longer have prosciutto in the Pasta Milano. WHAT? That was what gave it its tremendous flavor. Yes, garlic and cream sauce are good, and mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes are okay too, but the combination of all of the above with the seasonings and PROSCIUTTO made the dish. We still make it with prosciutto at home, but how sad that so many evidently have never had it that way. Want to make this dish REALLY good? Cut back on the tomatoes and dice some prosciutto for the real deal. Let me know if you like it!
Erin S says
I had no idea they used to make it with proscuitto, that sounds even better! Thanks for the idea!
Lois says
This dish is delicious!!!! I always order pasta Milano whenever I go to the macaroni grill.
Patrina McCabe says
How do you keep it from curdling? I make this often but it always curdles and it makes me so mad. Taste amazing but looks awful.
Erin S says
I have never had it curdle before. Here are a few tips to try. Have your milk mixture not be crazy cold. I measure it when I start cooking and let it sit on the counter ready for me to add when the recipe calls for. There is a chance your stove is hotter than mine. Try turning down the temp before you add it. Cooking the milk to fast is part of what makes it curdle. So if you slowly pour it in, while mixing at a slightly lower temp that may help. Make sure you leave it uncovered while it is simmering, and don’t bring it to a huge rolling boil, just a light simmer. Let me know if any of those work. Enjoy!