Pasta Yumminess

My friend J and I frequently visit Macaroni Grill for lunch. They have an amazing pasta dish called Carmela’s Chicken Rigatoni and we both order it every time. The dish has grilled chicken, mushrooms and caramelized onions tossed in a creamy marsala wine sauce finished with fresh basil. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

I have been wanting to recreate this recipe for awhile now. After a quick trip to Whole Foods, tossing some ingredients together and several tastings, I think I have it figured out.

Creamy Marsala Wine Sauce with Grilled Chicken and Rigatoni
serves 2

6 tablespoons butter (divided)
½ onion, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
½ cup Marsala wine
1 cup cream
Fresh thyme, chopped
½ cup parmesan cheese
Fresh basil, chiffonade
1 grilled chicken breast
2 cups cooked rigatoni pasta
Salt and Pepper, to taste

1. In a small sauce pan, melt 3 tablespoons butter and add onions. Cook over low heat until onions have developed a light brown color.
2. In a sauté pan, melt remaining butter and add sliced mushrooms. Cook over medium heat until mushrooms are tender.
3. Add marsala wine and reduce by half.
4. Add cream and thyme and let simmer until sauce slightly thickens.
5. Stir in parmesan cheese, caramelized onions, basil and grilled chicken.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Pour sauce over pasta.

As Rachael Ray would say – YUMMO!