You deserve a comforting and impressive dinner that is surprisingly simple to make. This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe tastes restaurant-worthy but comes together fast, perfect for a busy weeknight or a special date night.
Author:sarahthompson
Prep Time:10 min
Cook Time:25 min
Total Time:35 min
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Stovetop
Cuisine:Italian Inspired
Diet:Vegetarian
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
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/4 cup reserved pasta water
8 ounces pasta (penne or fettuccine work well)
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
Season the cut chicken pieces with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet. Cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
Serve immediately. Top each serving with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Notes
For a richer flavor, use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar instead of plain olive oil for searing the chicken.
If you want a slightly tangier sauce, add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard when you add the heavy cream.
This dish tastes excellent when served with crusty garlic bread for dipping in the extra sauce.