Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful one-pan dish featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and penne pasta all cooked together in a luscious Parmesan cream sauce infused with garlic, basil, and a touch of spice. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner or when you want an impressive, hassle-free meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon oil (preferably from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch pieces (about 1 ½ pounds)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or more to taste)
- ¾ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
Liquids and Pasta
- 1/3 cup dry white wine (or more chicken broth)
- 3 cups chicken broth (or more as needed)
- 1 (7-oz) jar sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained, reserve 1 tablespoon oil for cooking, chopped)
- 8 oz penne pasta (uncooked)
Finishing Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving, optional)
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 handful chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon oil reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes and 1 tablespoon butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced chicken breasts, season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until chicken is browned. Reduce heat to medium and stir in minced garlic, cooking for another minute to release its aroma.
- Add liquids, tomatoes, and pasta: Pour in the dry white wine, scraping any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Stir in chicken broth, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and uncooked penne pasta. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Cook pasta and sauce: Reduce heat to low simmer. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often. Cover the pan and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes more, stirring 1-2 times, until pasta is nearly tender. Add more broth if the mixture looks dry. Stir in the heavy cream, uncover, and continue cooking until the pasta is fully cooked and the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Finish and serve: Remove the pan from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and chopped basil. Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with extra basil and Parmesan if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor when browning the chicken.
- If you don’t have white wine, use additional chicken broth instead.
- Keep an eye on the liquid level while cooking pasta; add more broth as needed to prevent sticking.
- For a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Fresh basil brightens the finished dish but can be substituted with dried basil if fresh is unavailable.
- Leftovers keep well and taste great reheated the next day.
