Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a decadent yet easy-to-make Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breasts in a creamy, flavorful sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, served over your favorite pasta. This comforting and indulgent meal promises to impress whether for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thinly
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil, for searing
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine recommended)
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season & Sear Chicken: Pat the sliced chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic & Sun-Dried Tomatoes: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for an additional minute to release their flavor.
- Prepare Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, then add the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency. Season the sauce with Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of spice.
- Combine Chicken & Pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Add the drained pasta and toss everything thoroughly to ensure the pasta and chicken are well coated with the sauce and heated through.
- Garnish & Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot for the best flavor experience.
Notes
- A side green salad with a tangy vinaigrette pairs beautifully with this rich dish to balance flavors.
- Garlic bread or crusty Italian bread makes a perfect accompaniment to mop up the creamy sauce.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a combination of milk and Greek yogurt, though the sauce will be less rich.
- You can use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for extra flavor, but reduce additional olive oil accordingly.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 2 days; reheat gently to avoid separating the cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 3.5 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, chicken pasta recipe, easy Italian dinner
