Description

Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dinner recipe featuring tender chicken breasts seared to perfection and combined with a luscious sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce. Paired with perfectly cooked pasta, this dish is both simple to prepare and irresistibly delicious, making it an ideal weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

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 & Garnish

8 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
Fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions

Prepare & Sear Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Remove from the skillet, allow to rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
Cook Pasta: While the chicken is resting, cook the pasta in heavily salted boiling water according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
Build Sauce Base: Using the same skillet, add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the pan. Let the mixture simmer for 1-2 minutes to reduce slightly.
Create Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Combine & Serve: Add the sliced chicken and cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything to coat thoroughly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Let the dish simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smooth sauce texture.
Reserving pasta water is key to adjusting sauce consistency and helping the sauce adhere to the pasta.
For a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Chicken breasts can be replaced with chicken thighs for a juicier option.
Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil can be used for an even richer flavor.
Make sure not to overcook the pasta as it will cook a bit more when combined with the sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato sauce, Parmesan chicken pasta, easy dinner recipe, stovetop chicken pasta