If your go-to comfort meal is something warm, carb-heavy, loaded with cheese, with a kick of spice, welcome, my friend. I am about to give you your new favorite quick dinner recipe, which you can make at the end of a long day.
This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe has been in my dinner rotation all month, and I had to share it with you. The “Marry Me” food trend has taken off because you won’t believe that something this delicious can be made this quickly.
Pasta is already a comfort food for most; add chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and cheese, and you’ll have a bowl of restaurant-style pasta ready in half an hour. Before I start drooling while writing this, let’s get into it.
Equipment Required
- Pans: To cook the chicken.
- Pots: To boil the pasta and make the sauce.
- Spoons: To measure the salt and seasonings.
- Cheese Grater: For freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Chopping Board: Use a steel chopping board if you don’t already. The microplastics from plastic chopping boards and the bacteria from wooden ones are a health hazard.
- Knives: To chop up the chicken and veggies.
- Spatula: Use a food-grade silicone spatula while cooking the sauce so nothing gets burnt at the bottom.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Ingredients and Substitutions
Note: This recipe serves 4 people. Increase or decrease ingredient quantities based on the size of the gathering.
For the Chicken
- 500g Boneless Chicken Cubes: I used chicken breasts, but you can use skinless thighs or a combination of both.
- 1 Teaspoon Salt: Salt helps in cooking the chicken.
- ¼ Teaspoon Pepper: I used freshly cracked black pepper but you can use white pepper as well.
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil: You can use canola oil too.
- 400g Penne Pasta: You can use spaghetti or fettuccine if that’s what’s available on hand.
For the Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Butter: You can use a neutral oil but butter adds a flavor that can’t be replicated.
- 2 Tablespoons Chopped Garlic: I used freshly chopped or minced garlic, but garlic powder also works.
- 3 Tablespoons Flour: I use all-purpose flour, but you can swap it for oat flour.
- 2 Cups Chicken Broth: If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you can use vegetable broth or plain water, but I would recommend getting broth for that added flavor. Even a bouillon cube works.
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream: If you’re in the US, double cream or half and half works best for that added creaminess to the sauce.
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese works best, but if you have pre-grated, that works as well. Even Romano cheese has a similar flavor profile and works for the Marry Me pasta sauce.
- 1 Cup Chopped Sundried Tomatoes: Drain the oil from the sundried tomatoes and chop them finely so you don’t get chunks of it.
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika: The paprika adds a smoky, spicy kick to the sauce. You can also add sweet paprika or smoked paprika, but I used the regular kind.
- 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning: This gives the sauce a herby flavor without doing much. You can also add oregano and thyme if you have those.
- Fresh Basil or Parsley: Tear some fresh basil leaves or parsley for the garnish.
Preparation And Cooking Time
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Minutes | 20 Minutes | 30 Minutes |
How To Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta At Home
Step 1
Wash your chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
Step 2
Marinate the chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
Step 3
Set a pot on medium heat with water and let it come to a boil.
Step 4
Add the pasta and cook till it is al dante.
Step 5
Heat oil in a pan and cook the chicken on both sides till golden brown.
Step 6
Heat another pot and melt the butter and sauté garlic for 2 minutes. Add the flour and stir quickly.
Step 7
Add in the chicken broth and whisk so that it doesn’t form any lumps.
Step 8
Add in the heavy cream.
Step 9
Stir in the Parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
Step 10
Season with paprika and Italian seasoning.
Step 11
Add the cooked chicken and stir into the sauce.
Step 12
Add the pasta and mix. Let the chicken and pasta cook in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes.
Step 13
Add fresh parsley or basil. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
Step 14
Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve hot. Your Marry Me Chicken Pasta is ready!
Expert Tips That I Recommend
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Drain the excess oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and then add them to the sauce.
- Thaw your chicken well if you’re using frozen chicken.
- Don’t add too much salt to the sauce since the chicken was already seasoned.
- Cut the chicken into approximately the same size cubes so that they cook evenly.
- Since this is a high-calorie meal, you can make swaps to make it more suited to your dietary preference and make it more balanced and protein-rich.
FAQs About Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
Nutritional Information Per Serving
My Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a carb-loaded bowl because you can’t always count your macros. So here is the nutritional information per serving:
| Calories | 811 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 55 g |
| Protein | 49 g |
| Fat | 45 g |
| Saturated Fat | 25 g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3 g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 13 g |
| Trans Fat | 0.4 g |
| Cholesterol | 189 mg |
| Sodium | 1,678 mg |
| Potassium | 1,599 mg |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 13 g |
| Vitamin A | 1,661 IU |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Calcium | 404 mg |
| Iron | 5 mg |
Recipe Variations for Different Diets
- Gluten Free: You can use any gluten-free pasta like lentil pasta, chickpea pasta or millet pasta to make this a gluten-free recipe.
- High Protein: Use chicken breasts and chickpea pasta to boost the protein content.
- Vegan: Use dairy-free cream or make a cashew paste with soaked cashews and water to use as cream. You can also swap the chicken for any protein of your choice like vegan chicken, tofu or tempeh. For the chicken stock, you can also use vegetable broth or water.
- Keto: You can use zucchini noodles in place of the pasta to make it keto-friendly.
Storing and Reheating
Storing
- Storage: Store the Marry Me Chicken Pasta in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze the chicken and sauce separately for up to a week. When you want to make the dish, boil some pasta, heat the sauce and chicken and mix.
Reheating
- Microwave: You can add a splash of chicken broth or water and microwave for about 2 mins.
- Stove-top: Heat the pasta in a pan with a little chicken broth or water.
What To Serve With This Recipe
The Marry Me Chicken Pasta is best served with toasted Garlic Bread, buttered sourdough, or even Breadsticks. A glass of red wine Sangria along with the pasta is also something to enjoy at the end of a long day.
Printable Version
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 500 g Boneless Chicken Cubes
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 400 g Penne Pasta
For the Sauce:
- 3 Tablespoon Butter
- 2 Tablespoon Chopped Garlic
- 3 Tablespoon Flour
- 2 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Cup Chopped Sun-dried Tomatoes
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Fresh Basil or Parsley
Equipment
- Pans
- Pots
- Spoons
- Cheese Grater
- Chopping Board
- Knives
- Spatula
Instructions
- Wash your chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
- Marinate the chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Set a pot on medium heat with water and let it come to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook till it is al dante.
- Heat oil in a pan and cook the chicken on both sides till golden brown.
- Heat another pot and melt the butter and sauté garlic for 2 minutes. Add the flour and stir quickly.
- Add in the chicken broth and whisk so that it doesn’t form any lumps.
- Add in the heavy cream.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Season with paprika and Italian seasoning.
- Add the cooked chicken and stir into the sauce.
- Add the pasta and mix. Let the chicken and pasta cook in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add fresh parsley or basil. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve hot.
Notes
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Drain the excess oil from the sun-dried tomatoes and then add them to the sauce.
- Thaw your chicken well if you’re using frozen chicken.
- Don’t add too much salt to the sauce since the chicken was already seasoned.
- Cut the chicken into approximately the same size cubes so that they cook evenly.
- Since this is a high-calorie meal, you can make swaps to make it more suited to your dietary preference and make it more balanced and protein-rich.
Nutrition
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Conclusion
If you, too, are looking for a new comfort meal, the Marry Me Chicken Pasta hits all the right spots. It is creamy, satisfying and very easy to prep, and surprisingly easy to finish, making it ideal for a comforting weeknight dinner or even a special occasion.
The combination of the chicken with the creamy sauce and pasta makes each mouthful delicious. It is one of those recipes that can be easily adjusted to the ingredients you have lying in your pantry so give it a try and let me know your thoughts!
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