Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts tossed with al dente pasta in a luscious sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce. This comforting Italian-inspired recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that feels indulgent.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (penne or rigatoni)
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season and Sear Chicken: Season the chicken cutlets generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken breasts until they develop a golden brown crust, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side. Once cooked through, remove the chicken from the skillet and keep warm.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water for later use. Drain the pasta well.
- Sauté Aromatics and Tomatoes: In the same skillet used to cook the chicken, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the minced garlic over medium heat for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes to deepen their flavor.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and whisk until melted and smooth. Adjust the sauce consistency by gradually adding the reserved pasta water if it seems too thick.
- Combine and Serve: Slice the cooked chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything thoroughly to coat the pasta and chicken evenly with the creamy sauce. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Use pasta types like penne or rigatoni that hold the sauce well.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency; the starch helps thicken and bind the sauce.
- For extra flavor, use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil.
- To reduce cooking time, pound chicken breasts to even thickness before searing.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs like basil or parsley if desired.
