Chicken & Shrimp Arreganate Recipe

Why You’ll Love This this Chicken & Shrimp Arreganate

This creamy, cheesy pasta dish brings together tender chicken and succulent shrimp in a rich sauce that’s basically a warm hug on a plate.

You get the best of both worlds with protein that satisfies everyone at the table, plus that gorgeous melted mozzarella on top that makes everything look restaurant-fancy.

The combination of white wine, cream, and fresh basil creates this amazing sauce that clings to every spiral of the rotelle pasta, which honestly makes me wonder why anyone bothers with plain spaghetti anymore.

Ingredients List

Let me break down everything you’ll need to create this show-stopping dish that honestly makes me feel like a fancy chef even though I’m probably wearing pajama pants.

• 1/2 lb rotelle pasta (corkscrew)
• 1 lb chicken breast
• 12 raw shrimp
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Additional salt and pepper to taste

A few ingredient notes to keep in mind:

• This recipe is definitely on the indulgent side with that heavy cream and double cheese situation, so maybe balance it out with a nice side salad
• You can lighten things up by using half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though the sauce won’t be quite as luxurious
• Fresh basil really makes a difference here, but dried will work in a pinch if that’s what you’ve got
• The white wine adds great flavor, but if you don’t cook with alcohol, extra chicken broth works just fine

Step by Step Directions

This hearty pasta dish combines tender chicken and succulent shrimp in a rich, creamy sauce topped with melted cheese.

• Cook rotelle pasta according to package directions and set aside.
• Slice chicken breast into thin chunks.
• Combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika on a plate.
• Dredge chicken pieces in the flour mixture until coated.
• Heat olive oil in a large frying pan and brown chicken for 2 minutes on each side, then set aside on a platter.
• In the same pan, sauté chopped onion and minced garlic until onion becomes translucent, about 4 minutes.
• Add chopped tomatoes and fresh basil, cooking for another minute.
• Pour in chicken broth, white wine, and heavy cream, then simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add raw shrimp to the pan and continue simmering for 2 minutes.
• Return chicken to the pan and mix well with the sauce.
• Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes until cheese melts.
• Serve the chicken and shrimp mixture over the cooked rotelle pasta.

For an authentic restaurant-style presentation, consider serving this dish on a sizzling cast iron platter to keep it warm and add dramatic flair to your dinner table.

Substitutions and Variations

• Herb switches – Fresh oregano or thyme instead of basil, or dried Italian seasoning when fresh herbs cost more than your monthly streaming subscription
• Spice it up – Add red pepper flakes with the garlic, or a pinch of cayenne in the flour mixture for those who like their comfort food with a little attitude
• Vegetable additions – Bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach stirred in with the tomatoes, because vegetables make everything feel more virtuous, right

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This creamy, cheesy pasta practically begs for some supporting characters to round out the meal.

• Garlic bread – Because if we’re being truthful, you’re already committed to the carbs and butter, so why not go all in with some crusty bread that’s been properly introduced to garlic and olive oil.
• Simple green salad – Something light and crisp with a lemon vinaigrette to cut through all that delicious richness, plus it makes you feel like a responsible adult who eats vegetables.
• Roasted asparagus or green beans – Quick-roasted with just salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil, these add color and crunch without competing for attention.
• Caesar salad – The classic pairing with anything remotely Italian-adjacent, and those anchovies play surprisingly well with the seafood atmosphere.
• Steamed broccoli – Your mom would be proud, and sometimes we need that little voice of nutritional reason when faced with a plate of creamy pasta perfection.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

Let me share the little secrets that’ll turn this already impressive dish into something that makes people think you went to culinary school.

• Don’t skip the dredging step – That flour mixture isn’t just busywork, it creates a golden crust that locks in the chicken’s juices and helps thicken your sauce naturally as it all simmers together.
• Pat those shrimp completely dry – Wet shrimp will steam instead of getting that lovely pink sear, and nobody wants sad, gray shrimp floating around in their fancy pasta.
• Use the same pan for everything – All those beautiful browned bits from the chicken are liquid gold for flavor, so scrape them up when you add the broth and wine.
• Don’t overcook the shrimp – Two minutes is really all they need, and they’ll continue cooking in that hot, creamy sauce even after you turn off the heat.
• Reserve some pasta water – About half a cup of that starchy, salty liquid is perfect for loosening the sauce if it gets too thick, plus it helps everything cling together like it’s meant to be.
• Taste before serving – That cream can mellow out all your seasonings, so give it a final taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and maybe a squeeze of fresh lemon to brighten everything up.
• Let it rest for a minute – I know it’s tempting to plunge right in, but letting everything sit for just a minute helps the sauce settle and the flavors meld together properly.

Nutritional Facts

This hearty combination of lean protein, pasta, and creamy sauce delivers a satisfying meal with substantial nutritional value.

• Calories: Approximately 650-750 per serving, depending on portion size
• Protein: 45-50 grams from the chicken breast and shrimp combination
• Carbohydrates: 55-60 grams, primarily from the rotelle pasta
• Fat: 25-30 grams, with saturated fat from the heavy cream and cheeses
• Fiber: 3-4 grams from the pasta and vegetables
• Sodium: 800-950 mg, largely from the cheeses and chicken broth
• Calcium: 25% of daily value from the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses
• Iron: 15% of daily value from the chicken and enriched pasta
• Vitamin C: 20% of daily value from the fresh tomatoes and basil
• Selenium: Excellent source from the shrimp, supporting immune function
• Niacin (B3): High content from chicken breast, essential for energy metabolism
• Phosphorus: Good source from the protein and dairy components

Fun “Did You Know?”

While you’re savoring this delicious Chicken & Shrimp Arreganate, you’re actually enjoying a dish that bridges culinary traditions from opposite sides of the Mediterranean.

The term “arreganate” comes from Italian “oreganata,” meaning “with oregano,” though this recipe uses basil instead.

Rotelle pasta’s corkscrew shape isn’t just decorative—it’s engineered to grab and hold creamy sauces perfectly.

Here’s something fascinating: combining chicken and seafood in one dish was once considered taboo in traditional Italian cooking, but modern fusion cuisine has embraced this delicious rebellion.

You’re fundamentally eating culinary history that’s evolved beyond conventional boundaries.