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Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta: Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipe

Close-up of creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta featuring penne, chunks of chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

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Make this restaurant-style Marry Me Chicken Pasta at home. This recipe delivers a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce with tender chicken, perfect for an impressive yet easy weeknight dinner or date night.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
  • 12 ounces pasta (penne, fettuccine, or bowtie work well)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let it burn.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the broth simmer for 1 minute.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
  7. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and thickened. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy sauce.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

  • For an extra layer of flavor, add 1/4 cup of dry white wine to the skillet after the chicken broth and let it reduce before adding the cream.
  • If you prefer a richer sauce, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, though the sauce will be slightly thinner.
  • This dish tastes great with spinach added during the last two minutes of simmering the sauce.

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