Marry Me Chicken Pasta! This creamy pasta dish with tender chicken breast, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil is so good you could get someone to propose.
It is excellent for busy weeknights or a date night. 30 minutes is all you need to make this recipe. It is an absolute delight and you will soon find yourself making this marry-me chicken pasta again.
Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
I love creamy pasta dishes that warm the heart. There is no exception to this easy Marry Me chicken pasta recipe. The creamy texture of this dish makes it irresistible. It will surely impress if you serve this for a date night or a busy weeknight. It is inexpensive to make and tastes like something from your favorite restaurant.
In contrast to the name of this dish, I didn't necessarily get a marriage proposal. However, I got three hungry tummies, happy, full, and satisfied, and I always get the requests to make it again.
The dish is creamy, and the fresh basil complements the dish beautifully. This version of Marry Me pasta is a hybrid of my tomato basil pasta and creamy Tuscan salmon recipe. You will love this one; let's get on with it.
Why you will love this recipe
- Quick and easy to make. It takes 30 minutes or less
- Creamy, rich, flavorful and delicious
- Inexpensive to make: This dish is economical and doesn't taste cheap.
- Utilizes simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry.
What you will need
You will need the ingredients below to make this Marry Me chicken and pasta recipe. The total quantity is listed in the recipe card below.
Boneless chicken breast: Substitute with boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Pasta: I used rigatoni, but you can use penne pasta or any other dried-shaped pasta you prefer.
Olive oil: substitute with avocado oil or any other flavorless cooking oil you prefer instead.
Unsalted butter: You can use salted butter if that is what you have, but ensure to adjust the overall salt you will add to the dish accordingly.
Heavy cream: Substitute with half and half (single cream) to make this dish lighter.
Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated parmesan cheese off the block for the best flavor.
Onions: I used brown onions, but you can also use red onions or shallots for a mellow flavor.
Fresh garlic: You will get more flavor using fresh garlic but you can substitute with garlic powder or granules.
Sun dried tomatoes: I used sundried tomatoes packed in oil. It is more flavorful and cooks better than using dried ones. Tomato paste or fresh cherry tomatoes are an excellent alternative to sundried tomatoes.
Smoked paprika: This is used to season the chicken before it is cooked. It adds a tad of smokiness to the chicken. Substitute with regular paprika if you prefer.
Italian seasoning: oregano, herbs de Provence, or any mixed dried herbs are good alternatives for this recipe
Red pepper flakes: I added this for a little kick and to balance the creaminess of the pasta. Omit the red pepper flakes if you want or substitute with cayenne pepper.
Low-sodium chicken stock: Substitute with white wine or chicken broth.
Fresh basil leaves: I strongly recommend you use fresh basil for this recipe. The aromatic and bold flavor you get from the fresh herb can't be compared to using dried one.
Salt and black pepper: Be careful not to be heavy-handed when seasoning the final dish, remember you would have added salt to the pasta.
How to make Marry Me chicken pasta
Cook the pasta: place a large pot of salted water on medium-high heat, add pasta, and cook until al dente. Reserve some pasta water (about 1 cup) Drain and set aside. In the meantime, start cooking the Marry Me sauce.
Place a large skillet on medium high heat. Add butter and olive oil, heat until hot, and the butter melts.
Add cubed boneless chicken breast to the hot skillet and season with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked, firm, and no longer pink. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and transfer to a plate. Cover it with a foil to keep it warm while cooking the rest of the dish.
Reduce the heat, add the remaining butter to the skillet, add chopped onions, and cook until soft and translucent. Add chopped garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning to the sauteed aromatics and cook for 30 seconds.
Pour the chicken stock to the pan and stir to combine, deglazing the bottom of the pan simultaneously to release all the browned bits.
Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese to the skillet. Stir to combine, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the cooked chicken to the skillet with red pepper flakes and fresh basil. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until everything is well combined.
Toss in cooked pasta into the creamy sun dried tomato sauce mix and stir to combine. Add pasta water (a little at a time) until the pasta is fully coated with the sauce and the desired consistency is achieved.
Remove the pan from the heat, and garnish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
How to store and reheat
This Marry Me chicken pasta can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place the cold pasta in a large skillet on medium-high heat and add a splash of chicken stock, stirring to combine. Cook until heated through.
You can also reheat it in the microwave for a few minutes or until warmed to your satisfaction.
FAQs
What other alternatives are there for heavy cream
For this recipe, you can substitute heavy cream for half and half, mascarpone cheese, creme fraiche, or alfredo sauce.
Will this recipe land me an engagement?
Well, no one can guarantee that. But Marry me chicken and pasta is a great dish to make for a romantic dinner, and you will surely get compliments and, who knows, an engagement.
Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe
You can use frozen chicken breasts if you have them on hand. However, ensure to thaw the chicken before cooking, as frozen chickens tend to take longer to cook. Ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165F/74C.
Can I double the recipe
Yes! You can easily double or triple this recipe's ingredients if you feed more people. You may need a larger skillet or pot for that. Also, ensure to adjust cooking times accordingly.
Watch how to make it
More chicken and pasta recipes to try next
Cajun chicken orzo via cheap chicken recipes
Creamy chicken and chorizo pasta
Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.2 lb boneless chicken breast cut into bite-size cubes 500g
- ½ lb dried pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter divided into halves
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ⅓ cup onions finely chopped
- 1 Tablespoon garlic finely chopped
- ½ cup sundried tomatoes chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 10 g fresh basil leaves or as needed
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Place a large pot of salted water on medium-high heat, add pasta, and cook until al dente. Reserve some pasta water (about 1 cup). Drain and set aside. In the meantime, start cooking the Marry Me sauce.½ lb dried pasta
- Place a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add 1 Tablespoon butter and olive oil, heat until hot, and the butter melts.1 Tablespoon olive oil, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add cubed boneless chicken breast to the hot skillet and season with smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, for 4-6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked, firm, and no longer pink. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and transfer to a plate. Cover it with a foil to keep it warm while you continue cooking the rest of the dish.1.2 lb boneless chicken breast cut into bite-size cubes, Salt and black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Reduce the heat, add the remaining butter to the skillet, add chopped onions, and cook until soft and translucent. Add chopped garlic and cook for about 30 seconds or until fragrant.2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, ⅓ cup onions, 1 Tablespoon garlic
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning to the sauteed aromatics and cook for 30 seconds.½ cup sundried tomatoes, ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Pour the chicken stock to the pan and stir to combine, deglazing the bottom of the pan simultaneously to release all the browned bits.⅓ cup low-sodium chicken stock
- Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese to the skillet. Stir to combine, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes.1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup parmesan cheese
- Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet with red pepper flakes and fresh basil. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until everything is well combined.1.2 lb boneless chicken breast cut into bite-size cubes, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 10 g fresh basil leaves
- Toss in cooked pasta into the creamy sun dried tomato sauce mix and stir to combine. Add pasta water (a little at a time) until the pasta is fully coated with the sauce and the desired consistency is achieved.
- Remove it from the heat, and garnish with fresh basil and parmesan cheese before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and quick chicken breast and pasta recipe you can make at home in no time. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox.
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