Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful pasta dish featuring tender strips of seasoned chicken cooked to perfection and combined with a luscious sauce of heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil. It’s an irresistible meal ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (plus more for garnish)
Pasta
- 8 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta, cooked al dente
- 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water (optional, for thinning sauce)
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: Season the chicken strips evenly with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken. Cook each side for 4 to 5 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, paprika, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Combine Everything: Slice the cooked chicken into strips and return them to the skillet with the sauce. Add the chopped fresh basil and stir well to coat the chicken in the creamy sauce. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Garnish the dish with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy, comforting Marry Me Chicken Pasta!
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter option, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Use gluten-free pasta if needed to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Red pepper flakes are optional and can be adjusted according to your spice preference.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the thickness of the sauce for serving.
- Add a side of garlic bread or a fresh green salad to complement the meal.
