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Marry Me Chicken is said to be so good that someone would marry you simply for the enjoyment of the dish. Marry Me Chicken Pasta takes that classic recipe to a new level with a creamy, rich parmesan sauce and penne pasta. It’s a 30 minute meal that’s sure to impress your family and friends.
Of course, Marry Me Chicken Pasta is the perfect dish to serve for a romantic date night at home. It’s also filling and flavorful, making it perfect for those evenings when you want something quick, delicious, and a little bit special. Treat your significant other or your family to a restaurant-quality meal without leaving the house.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Rich and Creamy: The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan cheese creates a luscious sauce that’s irresistible.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can whip up this gourmet dish in under an hour.
- Comfort Food: It’s the ultimate comfort food with its creamy, savory flavors that warm the soul.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta: Penne works well with this dish. The noodles are large enough to stand up to the chunks of chicken, and the shape holds a ton of the tasty sauce. You can substitute your favorite pasta shape.
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cut into small 1-inch pieces for this dish. If you prefer dark meat, you can substitute boneless, skinless thighs, but be sure to increase the cooking time.
- Spices: The chicken gets tossed with garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Oil: Use your favorite light, neutral-flavored oil to saute the chicken.
- Roux: The base of the sauce is a roux made with unsalted butter, minced garlic and flour.
- Liquids: Adding low-sodium chicken broth and heavy cream to the roux makes the sauce creamy and thick. You could use half-and-half cream to lighten it up, but it will change the richness of the dish.
- Seasonings: Use a mix of Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to season the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Finishing the sauce with grated parmesan cheese gives it great flavor and helps it thicken up.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Drained, chopped sun-dried tomatoes are a delicious addition to the sauce. Can’t find the jarred sun-dried tomatoes? Bring dried ones to a simmer in broth to soften.
- Basil: Garnish the pasta with fresh basil.
How To Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Top with basil and more parmesan cheese, then enjoy!
Tips To Perfect This Recipe
- Sear the Chicken: Ensure you get a good sear on the chicken to lock in the juices and add depth of flavor.
- Don’t Rush the Sauce: Let the sauce simmer to allow the flavors to meld together and thicken properly.
- Season Generously: Use salt and pepper to taste, and adjust seasoning as needed to balance the flavors.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh herbs and high-quality Parmesan cheese make a big difference in flavor.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Marry Me Chicken is a complete dish on it’s own, so you’ll want to serve it with something light. A House Salad would make a great first course. And don’t forget about the bread to soak up that delicious sauce. Try these Dinner Rolls or cheesy pesto Garlic Bread!
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or in a skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of cream or broth to loosen the sauce, if necessary.
Freezing: Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Alternative Cooking Method
Instant Pot: Saute the chicken using the SAUTE function. Then add the butter, garlic, and flour. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and pasta and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes with a quick release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, simply swap out the pasta and flour for gluten-free alternatives.
Switching to dairy-free alternatives will change the final flavor, but you can substitute coconut milk for the heavy cream and then use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.
I prefer cooking this dish before for best results but you can prepare the dish ahead of time and reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave.
More Chicken Pasta Recipes
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Creamy Spicy Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Scampi Pasta
- Baked Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
If you’re looking for a meal that’s irresistibly delicious, Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a great choice Serve it with your favorite sides and watch your loved ones fall in love with every bite!
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounce penne pasta
For the chicken
- 1 ½ lb boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ¾ cup chopped sun dried tomatoes, oil drained
- Basil, to garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Pat dry the chicken pieces with a kitchen towel to remove any excess moisture. Season the chicken pieces with oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add some olive oil. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter and allow it to melt. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about a minute until fragrant.
- Sprinkle the flour and stir. Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil and then simmer the sauce for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer the sauce for 2 more minutes to thicken.
- Return the cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet and toss them with the creamy sauce until everything is well coated.
- Garnish with fresh basil and shredded parmesan cheese, and serve.
Notes
- Let the chicken marinade in the spices for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours before cooking.
- Cut the chicken into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Cook the chicken to 165 degrees F when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Cook the pasta to al dente as it will continue to cook when added to the sauce.
