The Perfect Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Marry me chicken pasta converts ordinary weeknight dining into a culinary love affair that sparks immediate conversation.

Creamy, decadent sauces embrace tender chicken pieces with Mediterranean-inspired charm.

Passionate home cooks adore this romantic dish for its simple yet sophisticated flavor profile.

Rich ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of textures that feels both comforting and elegant.

Each forkful promises a delightful experience that could potentially seal romantic commitments.

Herbs and seasonings weave magic through the recipe, elevating standard pasta to extraordinary heights.

This crowd-pleasing meal guarantees smiles, compliments, and potentially a marriage proposal.

Why Everyone’s Talking About Marry Me Chicken Pasta

• Flavor Explosion: Packed with rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and zesty Parmesan, this dish delivers an intense taste experience that dances across your palate with every single bite.
• Quick Weeknight Winner: Takes just 30 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy families wanting a gourmet-style meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Restaurant-Quality Comfort: Transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious pasta dish that feels like something you'd order at a fancy Italian restaurant, but can easily recreate at home with minimal cooking skills.
• Customizable Culinary Canvas: Easily adaptable by switching proteins, adjusting spice levels with red pepper flakes, or adding extra vegetables to suit personal taste preferences and dietary needs.

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main component of the dish, best when fresh and boneless.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds rich, salty flavor and helps thicken the sauce, authentic Italian cheese preferred.

• Garlic: Provides depth and pungent flavor to the sauce, fresh cloves recommended.
• Italian Seasoning, Red Pepper Flakes: Adds warm, herbal notes and subtle heat to enhance overall taste.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and balancing flavors throughout the dish.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Creates a rich cooking base with golden color and deep flavor for chicken and sauce.
• Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and helps deglaze the pan, enriching the sauce's depth.
• Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious, smooth sauce texture with creamy consistency.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Brings concentrated, tangy sweetness and vibrant color to the sauce.
• Fresh Basil Leaves: Provides fresh, bright garnish with aromatic herb flavor.
• Pasta: Serves as the base of the dish, catches and holds the creamy sauce well.

Cooking Steps for Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Step 1: Prepare Chicken for Culinary Magic

• Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper
• Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat
• Cook chicken until golden brown and fully cooked (about 6-8 minutes per side)
• Remove chicken from skillet and set aside

Step 2: Create Luxurious Sauce Explosion

• Chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• Garlic
• Italian seasoning
• Red pepper flakes

Deglaze the pan with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits

Stir in all sauce ingredients

Simmer until sauce thickens (about 5 minutes)

Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper

Step 3: Cook Perfect Pasta

Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente

Drain pasta and set aside

Step 4: Assemble Mouthwatering Dish

Slice cooked chicken breasts

Layer pasta on serving plate

Arrange chicken slices over pasta

Pour creamy sun-dried tomato sauce generously

Garnish with fresh basil leaves

Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese on top

Serve immediately and enjoy your culinary creation

Tips to Make Marry Me Chicken Even Better

• Perfectly Sear Chicken: Pat chicken breasts completely dry before seasoning to achieve a golden-brown crust that locks in moisture and creates delicious caramelization.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Simmer sauce slowly and stir frequently to prevent burning, allowing it to thicken naturally without becoming too runny or too dense.
• Maximize Flavor Depth: Toast Italian seasoning in the pan for 30 seconds before adding liquid to intensify its aromatic qualities and enhance overall taste profile.
• Prevent Pasta Overcooking: Always cook pasta just until al dente, as it will continue absorbing sauce after mixing, ensuring a perfect texture without becoming mushy.
• Balance Cream Sauce: Use room temperature heavy cream and add it gradually to prevent separation, creating a smooth and luxurious sauce that coats pasta beautifully.

How to Store Chicken Pasta Without Drying Out

• Refrigeration: Transfer the Marry Me Chicken Pasta to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent moisture loss. Separate the chicken and pasta if possible to keep the textures intact.
• Reheating: Warm the pasta and chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to restore moisture and prevent drying out. Stir gently and frequently to distribute heat evenly. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the dish in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the creamy sauce, balancing its richness with bright, zesty notes that complement the sun-dried tomatoes.
• Match with Crusty Garlic Bread: Warm, toasted sourdough or ciabatta provides the perfect vehicle for soaking up the luscious, creamy sauce, adding textural contrast and extra flavor.
• Serve with Fresh Arugula Salad: A light, peppery salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette offers a refreshing counterpoint to the rich, creamy pasta, cleansing the palate between bites.
• Complement with Sparkling Water: A bubbly mineral water with a slice of lemon helps cut through the dish's richness, providing a crisp and clean accompaniment that enhances the overall dining experience.

Pasta Flavor Combos Worth Trying

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Kick up the heat by adding chopped jalapeños and swap sun-dried tomatoes with roasted red peppers for a zesty Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Creamy Mushroom Protein: Incorporate sautéed cremini or shiitake mushrooms into the sauce and replace chicken with grilled shrimp or pan-seared salmon for a rich, earthy alternative.
• Light Veggie Transformation: Replace chicken with roasted zucchini and eggplant, use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream, and add spinach for a lighter, vegetable-packed rendition that maintains the original's creamy texture.
• Herbaceous Green Version: Introduce fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano directly into the sauce, and top with toasted pine nuts for an aromatic and nutty profile that elevates the classic recipe.

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta promises instant romance with its rich parmesan and sun-dried tomato sauce. Irresistible Italian-inspired flavors blend tender chicken, herbs, and pasta into a memorable meal guaranteed to win hearts.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein and Dairy:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (such as fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti)
• ½ cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream

Flavor Enhancers and Seasonings:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
• ½ cup (75 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Garnish:

• Fresh basil leaves
• Additional grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Liberally coat chicken breasts with salt and ground black pepper, ensuring even seasoning across both sides.
2. Warm olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high temperature until the butter melts and begins to shimmer.
3. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into the skillet, cooking approximately 6-7 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust develops and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
4. Transfer chicken to a clean plate, allowing it to rest while preserving the flavorful pan drippings.
5. Deglaze the identical skillet by pouring chicken broth, using a wooden spatula to scrape and incorporate all caramelized bits from the bottom.
6. Introduce heavy cream, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, dried Italian herb blend, and crushed red pepper flakes into the liquid.
7. Reduce heat and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and reduces by approximately one-third, around 4-5 minutes.
8. Adjust sauce seasoning with additional salt and ground black pepper to personal preference.
9. Simultaneously, prepare pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions, cooking until perfectly al dente (typically 8-10 minutes).
10. Drain pasta thoroughly, reserving minimal cooking water if needed for sauce consistency.
11. Slice rested chicken breasts into elegant diagonal strips.
12. Arrange cooked pasta on serving plates, layering sliced chicken atop the pasta.
13. Generously ladle the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce over chicken and pasta.
14. Garnish with freshly torn basil leaves and an additional sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese before serving immediately.

Notes

• Elevate your weeknight dinner with this romantic, restaurant-worthy pasta dish that combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and vibrant sun-dried tomatoes.
• Perfectly seared chicken breasts create a golden crust, ensuring juicy and flavorful meat that pairs beautifully with the luxurious sauce.
• Sun-dried tomatoes bring a tangy, concentrated sweetness that cuts through the rich cream sauce, adding depth and complexity to every bite.
• Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes, making this recipe adaptable for spice lovers and mild palate preferences.
• Fresh basil garnish provides a bright, aromatic finish that transforms this simple pasta into an elegant, Instagram-worthy meal.
• Prep and cook time is under 30 minutes, making this an ideal recipe for busy home cooks craving a delicious, impressive dinner.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 525 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 35 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg