If you’re looking for a recipe that will sweep you off your feet, Marry Me Chicken pasta is the dish for you. It contains perfectly cooked chicken and tender and chewy pasta doused in a creamy tomato sauce. It’s so decadent and delicious, you’re natural reaction will be to propose…if not a lifelong partnership, then definitely seconds!
What is Marry Me Chicken Pasta?
According to legend, “Marry Me Chicken” is so irresistibly delicious that the after one bite, your significant other might just drop to one knee and pop the question. As silly as it sounds, it’s an exaggerated way of saying it’s one of those seemingly “life-changing” dishes with which you will fall in love.
The dish is often enjoyed with just the chicken and sauce and thus referred to as “Marry Me Chicken.” In our case, we are adding pasta to introduce a starchy element as well as increase the overall bulk of the dish. Hence the name, “Marry Me Chicken Pasta.”
Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta
- Chicken breasts or thighs: Opt for boneless and skinless breasts or thighs. I prefer to cook my chicken breasts whole and slice them into strips to lay over the cooked pasta. You can also chop the chicken into bite sized pieces and mix it into the pasta if you prefer.
- Pasta: Any pasta of choice will work for this dish, cooked to “al dente” (see package for cook times). Take care not to overcook the pasta. The cooked pasta will be heated again when added into the hot sauce, so the pasta should be just slightly undercooked when drained.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Bursting with sweetness, these little gems will add a pop of color. I like to chop them in small bite sized pieces for a sweet, tangy, and pleasantly chewy texture.
- Chicken broth: This will act as the base of our luscious sauce, giving it a hint of chicken flavor.
- Heavy cream: To make the sauce extra rich and decadent.
- Parmesan cheese: Provides a salty and nutty element to the overall dish. Add to the sauce as the recipe suggests, then top again over the plated dish right before serving.
- Seasoning blend: While you can adjust and customize the seasonings to your liking, I use a simple blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and of course salt and pepper.
- Onions and garlic: The flavor base of any great dish. When cooked in oil, they release tons of great aroma that is infused throughout the dish.
- Fresh chopped parsley: To garnish and add a hint of freshness at the end.
How to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
1. Cook pasta according to package recommendations for al dente.
2. Combine seasonings for seasoning blend in a small bowl.
3. Pound chicken breasts to flatten and season both sides with half of the seasoning mix. Add oil to a heated pan and cook breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165.
**If you’d like more detailed instructions on how to properly cook chicken breasts so they stay tender and juicy, click here.
4. Remove the chicken breasts from the pan and set aside. Add butter to the pan and cook onions until they turn translucent. Add garlic and cook for just a minute until the garlic is golden. Add tomato paste and use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix.
5. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, the remaining seasoning blend, and sun-dried tomatoes. Once the sauce comes to a light simmer, add grated parmesan and mix.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Mix well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated in the creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
7. Once the chicken breasts have cooled and rested, slice into 1″ strips.
8. Plate the pasta and add the sliced chicken over it. Serve with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley to garnish.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 8 oz pasta use any pasta of choice
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated plus additional for topping
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp avocado oil or any neutral oil with high smoke point (grapeseed, canola, vegetable, etc.)
- 1 cup reserved pasta water *as needed
- chopped parsley to garnish *optional
- salt and pepper *to taste
Seasoning blend
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package recommendations for al dente
- Combine ingredients for seasoning blend to a small bowl and mix
- Pound chicken breasts to flatten and season both sides with half of the seasoning mix. Add oil to a heated pan and cook breasts for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165. You can find detailed instructions on how to properly cook chicken breast here.
- Remove cooked chicken breasts from the pan and set aside on a plate to rest.
- Add butter to the pan and cook onions until they turn translucent. Add garlic and cook for just a minute until the garlic is golden. Add tomato paste and use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix for just a minute.
- Add chicken broth, heavy cream, the remaining seasoning blend, and sun-dried tomatoes. Once the sauce comes to a light simmer, add grated parmesan and mix.
- At this point you can return the chicken breasts to the pan to cook in the sauce for just a minute (*optional). Then remove the chicken and slice once it has cooled.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Mix well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated in the creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. *Add additional pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Plate the pasta and add sliced chicken over it. Serve with additional parmesan cheese and chopped parsley to garnish.
It looked so good on IG that I had to make it right away! I followed your recipe exactly and it was delicious!
That makes me so happy 🙂 Thanks for trying the recipe, so glad you loved it!