When you think Homestyle, what comes to mind? Is there a particular recipe? Is it a pasta recipe? Desert recipe? A special chicken dish recipe that is passed down from mother to child?
For my family, visions of cooking with my parents in my childhood home pop up, and I immediately flash back to that skinny little galley kitchen. Additionally, I think of weekends at my Grandmother’s, all of us cousins fighting over the same stool that was closest to our Grammy, and helping her make her famous “Bark”. Homestyle cooking makes me think of long hours spent in front of the stovetop, stirring whatever dish it was that weekend we decided to cook up that day. Memories like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter – holidays where we focused almost more on the food and the company than the gifts.
Thinking on these special homestyle dishes gives me such warm and happy feelings, I want to make sure that I continue that with my husband and son (and soon to be September baby!). I want to continue the traditions of putting more than just ingredients into a pot. It’s love and time and family tradition that makes something “Homestyle” to me!
Ragu’s new Homestyle sauces pack so much flavor into each jar, it makes my frantic dinner cooking self rejoice! When I made this for the family the other night, it literally tasted like I had spent all day making my Grammy’s special pasta sauce – which requires a lot of patience and time that I do not have the energy for these days. Her special pasta sauce is so good because she doesn’t cut corners or take short cuts, she puts all of her into everything she does, and the end result is evident of that.
No artificial flavors, artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup in these Homestyle sauces – just like Grammy, Ragu prides themselves in taking the time to make sure each of their sauces is just right and made with the best ingredients. These new Ragu Homestyle sauces are such a bold new flavor, because they take the time to peel, chop and simmer each of their ingredients, and Ragu uses a special blend of herbs (like basil, fennel, oregano and black pepper), to pack a layered and flavorful punch in each and every bite. And no need to worry about a liquid-like sauce – Ragu’s Homestyle sauce is their thickest yet! It hugs every surface of your pasta dish, so you’re guaranteed to get a mouthful of flavor!
As much as I aspire to be like the females in my life who have so shaped who I am, I don’t always have the daily composure to put a full meal together like they did every night. This makes me feel super guilty a lot of the time, but I’ve come to realize its not always about how long you spend on the meal, it’s about the love and thought that goes into it. Andplusalso – it’s about how it goes over with a super picky toddler and hungry husband!
In my journey to be better at balancing everything, I’ve learned that quick and easy meals, especially ones made in the crockpot, are my best friend. Not only do crock pot meals take minimal skill (which is right up my alley!), but they make my house smell delicious and everything tastes like it’s been in the oven all day long – just like Ragu’s Homestyle sauces!
The following chicken and pasta dish is easily one of my new go-tos, because it combines ingredients we usually have around the house (Ragu Homestyle sauce, pasta, and chicken), and its full of flavor, but super easy to make! And oh my goodness, if you thought Ragu’s Homestyle sauce recipe was delicious on it’s own, just wait until you throw it in the crockpot – so so so good!
The ease and little time it takes to make are definitely up there on reasons why this is a repeat meal in our house, but the biggest deal for me is when my super picky toddler will gobble it up, saying “Mmm, mmm, mmm, mama dis delicious!”. It’s like the heavens above me have opened and the angels are singing loud!
- Any Ragu Homestyle Pasta Sauce (our current favorite is the Thick & Hearty Traditional recipe)
- Pasta of Your Choice (H is currently obsessed with ravioli, so that’s what I used this time, but this works great with spaghetti, rigatoni, and all types of pasta noodles!)
- 3 Chicken Breasts
- *optional* cheese of your choice (we use feta, but parmesan is delicious as well!)
- Place chicken in crockpot, and cover with Ragu Homestyle Pasta Sauce (I probably used about half the jar for this), and set it to cook for 8 hours. Obviously, you can change your cook time if you’re more pressed for time, and the dish will still turn out packed full of flavor, even if you ‘only’ set it for 4 hours!
- Close the lid and go on with your day!
- When the time is up on your Ragu Homestyle crockpot chicken, start on your pasta! Cook to package directions, and drain.
- Take chicken out of crockpot, and, using two forks, shred the chicken into a bowl.
- Place drained pasta on a platter, spoon some of your favorite Ragu Homestyle Pasta Sauce over the pasta, and top with your shredded chicken and a little shredded cheese of your choice if you so choose.
- That’s it! Enjoy!
We love us some family style dishes around our house, so I make it in a giant platter style so that everyone can take their own helpings. After sitting in the crockpot for most of the day, the Thick & Hearty Traditional flavors of the Ragu Homestyle pasta sauce are incredible and fill my house with the most delicious scent. By using the crockpot, it feels like my dish is literally being ‘simmered in tradition’!
Does this sound like something your family would enjoy? Which of the new Ragu Homestyle flavors would you use for your favorite Homestyle dish? See them all here!
Thank you to Ragu for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me pass on my family traditions, and make sure to visit Ragu’s website to learn more about the new line of Ragu Homestyle sauces and find a taste of home for your family!
My family would definitely enjoy this recipe. Love that RAGU Homestyle sauces have enough flavor to season the chicken. Will have to try this.
It is SUCH a flavorful sauce! And the chicken is awesome after it simmer with the RAGU in the slow cooker!
Ragu has been around for so many years :), I have fond memories of my mom cooking dinner with ragu. This is definitely something I have made in the past, but never with ragu. I may have to go pick up a bottle or two.
It was a family favorite of ours as well 🙂 Enjoy!
My husband would love this pasta. I love that you used Ragu sauce.
My husband loved it too!
Love love love Ragu. I do not often make sauce from scratch, so Ragu is a go-to brand. Always good, always homey. Love it!
Scratch is wonderful, but takes so long! Ha, I don't always have time for it, so Ragu is great!
I love using Ragu homestyle pasta sauce. I received some from a package from a friend. I will try this recipe.
Please do! And let me know what you think!
Pasta makes everything easy, especially during busy nights! I love how easy this recipe is to make and that it only involves a few ingredients.
Simple ingredients makes for a much easier dinner experience!
I like this sauce, it is really flavorful! Thanks for this recipe, will try it.
Thank you Nicole! Enjoy!
I normally think fried chiken and spaghetti when someone mentions homestyle. Fried chicken has always been my main comfort food.
Yum! Those are definitely some good comfort foods!
Ragu has always been our family's favorite. My family will love this new recipe!
Ours too 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Sounds delicious! Homestylr seems to be more hearty in my opinion. So many ways you can use it in recipes!
It is WAY more hearty! And so much flavor!
This looks so good! I will have to try Ragu!
Thank you Heather! Let me know what you think!
I've never tried this sauce but it seems delicious! Gonna buy some next week
So glad you're thinking of Ragu next time! ITs great on everything we've tried so far!
This looks like such a great recipe! I am glad that they have come out with a thick and hearty sauce.
That looks so delicious! I love Ragu. I always use this whenever I don't have a lot of time to prep food for the family.
That recipe looks really good. I've always loved Ragu sauce. I bet these taste great too.
I love a good pasta sauce and Ragu is one of my favorites for sure. And a green color pasta is always welcome.
xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com
Didn't know what ragu was till this lol. My sister loves pasta and this is an awesome recipe I can share with her
I love this easy recipe.
I never really thought of adding it to chicken before.
Thanks
Looks delicious! I love Ragu, too. Makes pasta dinners a breeze 🙂
I love making chicken in my crockpot, can’t wait to try this recipe, it looks amazing!
Thank you so much, Karen! I hope you enjoy it 🙂