Marry Me Chicken Pasta
This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe brings tender golden chicken, rigatoni, and sun-dried tomatoes together in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. Fresh basil and a splash of lemon keep every bite bright, while the sauce clings to the pasta. It’s an easy dinner that feels special and comes together in about 40 minutes.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni or penne
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt plus more for pasta water
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons oil from oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup finely grated Parmesan plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil plus more for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the package’s al dente directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Pat the chicken dry and season it with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat the sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed, until golden and the thickest pieces reach 165°F, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- Lower the heat to medium. Add the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir in the cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the Parmesan in small handfuls, stirring until melted.
- Return the chicken and its juices to the skillet. Add the pasta and toss. Stir in reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until the sauce coats the pasta. Finish with lemon juice and basil. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve with extra Parmesan.
Notes
Recipe note: The sauce should look slightly loose when you turn off the heat. Pasta continues to soak it up as it sits.
Servings per recipe: 6 Estimated nutrition per serving:
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Nutrition Card
Serving size: 1 generous bowl, or ⅙ of the recipeServings per recipe: 6 Estimated nutrition per serving:
- Calories: 590
- Protein: 39 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated fat: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 720 mg