Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, indulgent dish packed with bold flavors that will win anyone over! Seared chicken is simmered in a luscious sauce made with heavy cream, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes, then tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. This restaurant-quality dish is surprisingly easy to make and perfect for special occasions, date nights, or cozy dinners at home.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ small onion, finely diced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For the Pasta:
- 8 ounces fettuccine, penne, or linguine
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Optional Additions:
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
-
Sear the Chicken
- Slice the chicken breasts into thin cutlets or pound them evenly.
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
-
Prepare the Sauce
- In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and onion for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
-
Simmer the Sauce
- Reduce heat and slowly add the heavy cream, stirring continuously. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Add the crushed red pepper flakes (if using) and return the seared chicken to the pan.
- Cook for another 5–7 minutes on low heat until the chicken is fully cooked through.
-
Cook the Pasta
- While the sauce simmers, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
-
Combine and Serve
- Stir Parmesan cheese into the sauce and let it melt.
- Toss in the cooked pasta, mixing well to coat in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water as needed.
- Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- Searing the chicken first locks in moisture and deepens the flavor.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother, more flavorful sauce.
- Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Customize it! Add spinach, mushrooms, or a pinch of red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: marry me chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, chicken and pasta recipe, easy dinner, romantic dinner, comfort food, Italian-inspired pasta