Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken strips cooked in a rich sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce, tossed with your choice of fettuccine or penne pasta. This easy stovetop recipe is perfect for a romantic dinner or a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Cooking and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta and Garnish
- 1/2 pound pasta (fettuccine or penne), cooked and drained
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, season the sliced chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Make sure the chicken is well coated with the spices for maximum flavor.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken strips and cook for 4–5 minutes per side until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1–2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and slightly softened.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to deglaze the pan and lift all the flavorful bits. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if using. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked chicken strips to the skillet along with the cooked and drained pasta. Toss everything gently until the pasta and chicken are evenly coated with the creamy sauce and heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley. Serve immediately for a warm, comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil and add a splash of the oil to the sauce.
- Substitute chicken with shrimp if preferred, or replace the chicken with spinach for a vegetarian version.
- Leftover pasta reheats well; add a splash of cream or chicken broth when reheating to maintain sauce creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
