Description
A creamy, flavorful Marry Me Chicken Pasta dish featuring tender chicken pieces, sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich parmesan cream sauce, all tossed with perfectly cooked pasta. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an impressive yet easy meal for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz dried pasta of choice (half standard box)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- Basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Sauté Onion: While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy-duty pan over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Cook Chicken: Add minced garlic and 1 tablespoon butter to the pan, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant. Then add the bite-size chicken pieces along with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream, reserved pasta water, grated parmesan cheese, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes to thicken slightly. Adjust salt to taste.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss well, ensuring pasta is coated with the creamy sauce. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve immediately.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency without adding extra cream.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for richer flavor; drain and chop before adding.
- Feel free to substitute chicken breasts with thighs for juicier results.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to control the spiciness level.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, but sauce may be less rich.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
