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Reader-favorite ‘Marry Me Chicken’ made even better with tender penne pasta! The noodles hold the cheesy, sun-dried tomato sauce inside for a burst of flavor in each bite! It’s sure to win over anyone that tries it.
Besides this amazing marry me chicken pasta, if you’re looking for more skillet pasta dishes to add to the dinner rotation, try these! One-pot creamy chicken mushroom florentine, ground beef stroganoff, and Cajun chicken alfredo pasta!
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
This marry me chicken pasta is one of my favorite recipes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, and ready in 30 minutes! Marry me chicken on its own is absolutely to die for, but even better when you add those tender penne noodles to soak up all the sauce!
The sauce in this recipe is a mouthwatering combination of sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, cream, garlic, and delicious seasonings. It’s rich and creamy, but has an addictive tang because of the sun-dried tomatoes added. You’ll love it!
Everything You’ll Need
These simple ingredients come together to create a restaurant-quality dish that everyone will love! Marry me chicken pasta is creamy, tangy, savory, and so satisfying!
- Chicken Breasts: Skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
- Penne Pasta: Traps the creamy sauce perfectly.
- Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings give the marry me chicken pasta its first layer of flavor!
- Olive Oil: Used to sear the chicken in.
For the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
- Butter: Creates a rich base for the sauce and adds creaminess.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best!
- Flour: To thicken up the sauce with.
- Chicken Broth: Adjusts the consistency of the sauce and also adds savory flavor.
- Heavy Cream: Creates a luxurious, creamy texture. You can also use half and half as a lighter option.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated parmesan adds sharp, cheesy flavor and richness.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Tangy and delicious, for that classic ‘Marry Me’ flavor!
- Paprika: Adds a bit of smoky warmth.
- Italian Seasoning: Blend of herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme.
- Fresh Basil: Aromatic garnish that adds a pop of freshness!
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
How to make this knockout dinner in just 30 minutes! My family loves marry me chicken pasta so much, it’s always in the dinner rotation.
- Cook Penne: Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and then set aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.
- Cut Chicken: Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- Sear Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Set Aside: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, and set it aside while you make the sauce.
Sauce
- Sauté Garlic, Make Roux: Return to the same skillet, then add the butter. Once it is melted, sauté the garlic for 30 seconds until it’s fragrant. Then add in the flour and stir to make a paste.
- Add Liquid Ingredients and Cheese: Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
- Stir in Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Simmer: Simmer the sauce for a few minutes so it can thicken.
- Combine: Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Then stir to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese.
Tips for Success
Marry me chicken pasta is really straightforward and simple to make, but here are a few extra tips to ensure you end up with perfection.
- Check the Temperature of Your Chicken: The best way to check if your chicken is done and keep it from overcooking is by using a meat thermometer. It should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (74 degrees celcius)
- Add a Little Heat: Bring more warmth to the dish by sprinkling in red pepper flakes to taste!
- Use Freshly-Grated Cheese: I know it’s not quite as convenient, but if possible, use freshly grated Parmesan! It has better flavor and will melt more evenly into the sauce.
How to Store Marry Me Pasta
Everyone will love this marry me pasta so much that I doubt you will have leftovers. But in case you do, save and heat up your leftovers for a quick and satisfying lunch!
- In the Refrigerator: Keep leftovers tightly covered in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: Reheat gently in the microwave or stovetop over medium-low heat, and you’re ready to go! Add a splash of cream if needed for moisture.
For Dipping in That Amazing Sauce:
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Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
Chicken Pasta
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
Chicken Pasta
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.
- Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, and set it aside while you make the sauce.
Sauce
- Return to the same skillet, then add the butter. Once it is melted, sauté the garlic for 30 seconds until it's fragrant. Add in the flour and stir to make a paste.
- Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
- Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Simmer the sauce for a few minutes for it to thicken.
- Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Stir to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce.
- Garnish with chopped basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I think I loved it more because I used Rotini pasta ( I really don’t like the texture of penne) I also used boneless/skinless thighs (its what I had, besides they have more flavor than breasts) it was really delicious! Oh and I used “slap ya mama” seasoning on my chicken
Soo delicious! My two year old inhaled it as well!!
The ultimate win! 🙌
We all love this dish so quick and easy to make. It’s a winner winner chicken pasta dinner. Xx
Easy and delicious! Will be in the dinner rotation for sure! Thank you!
Delicious! I also added 3 handfuls of fresh baby spinach at the end . Will make again and again.
I’ve been making this recipe for over 55 years, delicious for kids too. I top it with mozzarella cheese always a big hit.
This is absolutely delicious,it’s one of my family favourites now.Im so glad I came across it.
I’m excited to try this recipe. Can it sit in a crockpot for a crowd for the day?
Check out this Crockpot marry me chicken! Just add in pasta about 20 minutes before serving.
This is one of the most incredible dishes I’ve ever made, and I’m a cook! Not a professional cook but I make a lot of dishes at home and this was amazing! I didn’t have the sun dried tomatoes so just added some mushrooms and holy cow! The sun dried tomatoes would make this even better for sure, although not sure how because it was that good. This sauce would be perfect on pretty much anything!
Did you strain the sundried tomatoes? Or poured the entire jar in it?
Drain the sun dried tomatoes cause if you don’t, it will be way too oily!!
Looks delicious and easy to make! I was wondering, would it be possible to switch out the flour for corn starch to make the sauce gluten-free? I can easily swap out regular penne for a gf variant, but I’m not sure if corn starch would be a good substitute for flour.
A cornstarch slurry should work just as well. 😊
Can you used rotisserie
This was awesome!! Great donner
This was really nice with 60 grams of baby spinach stirred thru it until it was slightly wilted about 1 to 2 minutes before serving
Can you used rotisserie
Delicious! My husband said it has the look and taste of restaurant food
Looks easy and delicious! I can’t eat tomatoes. Any substitute or will it still be good without the tomatoes?
Hmm, good question! The tomatoes add a tangy flavor that really brings the dish together. Without it, it will be more similar to alfredo. My suggestion is to add a little more paprika for some warmth or maybe throw in a pureed carrot and beet mixture.
Is the sun dried tomatoes used dry or in oil?
looks easy… and looks delicious