Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Marry me chicken pasta is creamy, a little smoky, and loaded with sun dried tomatoes and parmesan in every bite. Tender chicken and penne get tossed together in one skillet, and the whole thing is on the table in about 30 minutes. There's no wine and no heavy chopping list here, just a handful of pantry staples that build a genuinely rich sauce. It's the kind of dinner that turns a random Tuesday into something worth sitting down for.
Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 8 oz dried penne pasta half a standard box
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup white onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes finely chopped (or use sun-dried tomato paste)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute, allowing it to darken slightly and deepen in flavor.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in the grated Parmesan and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes (or sun-dried tomato paste). Simmer for 2–3 minutes, until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth.
- Return the chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss well to coat. If needed, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Notes
To store: You can tightly wrap the leftovers once cooled and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Reheat in the oven until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
To freeze: Tightly wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/6 | Calories: 554kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 27g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 800mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g