Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce tossed with your choice of pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, it makes a perfect weeknight dinner that’s both comforting and impressive.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz dried pasta of choice
Sauce and Chicken
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Cook Chicken: Add the butter and bite-sized chicken pieces to the skillet. Season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine and let the sauce simmer gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 3–5 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cooked pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately while warm for the best flavor.
Notes
- Use any pasta you prefer: penne, fettuccine, or rotini all work well for this recipe.
- For extra flavor, consider adding a splash of white wine before adding the cream to deglaze the pan.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil will add more richness, but if using dry-packed, rehydrate them briefly in warm water beforehand.
- This dish reheats well; store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
