Marry Me Chicken Pasta is the perfect solution to busy weeknights! This Tuscan chicken pasta is a one-pot dinner that combines tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, all simmered in a creamy sauce. Top this comforting and convenient dinner with grated parmesan and fresh basil for a finishing touch.
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With this Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe it's possible to get a truly delicious dinner on the table for a busy weeknight with a few basic ingredients (plus sun dried tomatoes).
Why this recipe is great
- Easy & Convenient: This family favorite is cooked in one pot with simple ingredients in about 40 minutes!
- Extra Tasty: The creamy sun-dried tomato sauce is infused with herbs and spices, then the pasta cooks right in that dreamy, flavorful sauce.
- It's versatile: It's the perfect dish for a weeknight dinner but special enough for date night or other special occasions.
- Packed with protein: There is plenty of boneless, skinless chicken breasts to satisfy even the hungriest eaters!
Just as great are these simple and easy one pot dinners: Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Dinner, One Pot Mac and Cheese, One Pot Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Sausage and Butternut Squash Orzo Pasta Recipe and Simple Chicken Pesto Orzo Recipe.
Ingredients
A full list and ingredient quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips:
- Chicken breast: Boneless chicken breasts are cubed into bite-size pieces for quick cooking.
- Flour: A dusting of all-purpose flour helps keep the protein in the chicken from getting tough which helps it to stay tender and juicy.
- Garlic: Minced fresh garlic infuses the tuscan cream sauce.
- Seasonings: Dried thyme and oregano plus chili flakes round out the flavors in the sauce.
- Chicken stock: Simmering the pasta in stock is one of the secrets for perfectly cooked and flavorful noodles that don't need a separate pot.
- Heavy cream: This is sometimes called heavy whipping cream in stores, we find that the fat content results in the creamiest sauce. Don't substitute half and half or milk.
- Parmesan: For the best flavor we recommend real parmigiano cheese. Usually stores like Costco or Sam's Club have the best price. If possible buy the block and shred it yourself. The flavor is worth the effort.
- Sun dried tomatoes: Either sun dried in oil or dried sun dried tomatoes in a pouch will work.
- Basil: The pop of fresh basil is the perfect way to finish this chicken pasta.
- Pasta: We used bowtie noodles, otherwise known as Farfalle, but any short to medium noodle like rigatoni, mostaccioli, or penne pasta will work.
How to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Preheat an extra large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat.
Season boneless chicken breast pieces generously with salt and black pepper. Lightly toss in flour, shaking off all the excess. We don't want breaded chicken here. Just a thin coating.
Melt butter and oil in the pan. Add chicken and cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
Note: to get a perfectly golden brown color don't overcrowd the pan. Instead cook chicken in two batches if necessary.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and saute garlic on the bottom of the pan for 30 seconds.
Add in red pepper flakes flakes, thyme and oregano and cook for 30 more seconds.
Pour in chicken broth and cream along with noodles. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover and stir occasionally until pasta is al dente which is in between 15 -20 minutes depending on the type of pasta.
Note: If the liquid evaporates before the noodles are done, add in a splash of water bit by bit until the noodles are done.
Once the pasta is done, stir in spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, grated parmesan cheese, and chicken.
Add extra cheese and basil on top of the pasta if desired.
Questions and answers
If there are any leftovers, store for 5-6 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The best way to reheat creamy pasta is gently with a bit of water or cream to loosen it up. If reheating in the microwave, choose a power of 7 or 8 so that the sauce doesn't separate. If reheating in the skillet, use a medium heat for the same reason.
Tips & tricks
- Once the pasta is added, simmer the liquid, but do not boil or there won't be enough liquid.
- If it begins boiling, either turn down the heat or set the lid slightly off the top so that just a bit of steam can escape.
- Use quality parmesan cheese. The flavor really makes a difference.
Recipe
Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta - One Pot Dinner!
Equipment
- Extra Large Skillet Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup flour
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 4.5 cups chicken stock
- 2.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 pound farfalle pasta or medium pasta like penne
- ½ cup sun dried tomatoes roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons fresh basil finley chopped
- 2 cups spinach chopped
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat an extra large skillet or dutch oven over medium heat.
- Season the boneless chicken breast pieces generously with salt and black pepper. Lightly toss in flour, shaking off all the excess. We don't want breaded chicken here. Just a thin coating.3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ cup flour
- Melt butter and 2 tablespoons of oil in the pan. Add chicken and cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside. Note: to get a perfectly golden brown color don't overcrowd the pan. Instead cook chicken in two batches if necessary.3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons butter
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and saute garlic on the bottom of the pan for 30 seconds. Then add in red pepper flakes flakes, thyme and oregano and cook for 30 more seconds.1 tablespoon garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Pour in chicken broth and cream along with noodles. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover and stir occasionally until pasta is al dente which is in between 15 -20 minutes depending on the type of pasta. Note: If the liquid evaporates before the noodles are done, add in a splash of water bit by bit until the noodles are done.4.5 cups chicken stock, 2.5 cups heavy cream, 1 pound farfalle pasta
- Once the pasta is done, stir in spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, grated parmesan cheese, and chicken.Add extra cheese and basil on top of the pasta if desired.½ cup sun dried tomatoes, 3 tablespoons fresh basil, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup parmesan cheese
- We love comments! Please come back and leave us one after you've tried this recipe.
Notes
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- Once the pasta is added, simmer the liquid, but do not boil or there won't be enough liquid.
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- If it begins boiling, either turn down the heat or set the lid slightly off the top so that just a bit of steam can escape.
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- Use quality parmesan cheese. The flavor really makes a difference.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Susan says
This looks delicious! I like to make meals to bring to my family. Will this recipe work if I make the whole meal ahead to bring the next day?
Thank you!
Misty says
Hi Susan! In my experience creamy pastas are always best fresh because the sauce tends to separate when it gets cold and is reheated. However, we do include some reheating tips in the post in the case you decide to try it out! My top tip is to add an extra splash of cream while you reheat it to try to restore the creaminess. Extra parmesan on top will also help restore the flavor since you're adding more cream. I hope this helps!
Priscilla says
Very easy recipe. You can make it under 1 hour. Very delicious!
Misty says
Glad you like it!
Lee says
I LOVE one pot dinners like this that literally nobody in the family complains about. Creamy and delicious!
Danielle says
Yay! We love hearing that!