Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Reader-favorite ‘Marry Me Chicken’ made even better with tender penne pasta! The noodles hold the cheesy, sun-dried tomato sauce inside for a burst of flavor in each bite! It’s sure to win over anyone that tries it.

Besides this amazing marry me chicken pasta, if you’re looking for more skillet pasta dishes to add to the dinner rotation, try these! One-pot creamy chicken mushroom florentine, ground beef stroganoff, and Cajun chicken alfredo pasta!

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (1)

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe

This marry me chicken pasta is one of my favorite recipes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, and ready in 30 minutes! Marry me chicken on its own is absolutely to die for, but even better when you add those tender penne noodles to soak up all the sauce!

The sauce in this recipe is a mouthwatering combination of sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, cream, garlic, and delicious seasonings. It’s rich and creamy, but has an addictive tang because of the sun-dried tomatoes added. You’ll love it!

Everything You’ll Need

These simple ingredients come together to create a restaurant-quality dish that everyone will love! Marry me chicken pasta is creamy, tangy, savory, and so satisfying!

  • Chicken Breasts: Skinless,boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
  • Penne Pasta: Traps the creamy sauce perfectly.
  • Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings give the marry me chicken pasta its first layer of flavor!
  • Olive Oil: Used to sear the chicken in.

For the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:

  • Butter:Creates a rich base for the sauce and adds creaminess.
  • Garlic:Fresh minced garlic is best!
  • Flour:To thicken up the sauce with.
  • Chicken Broth:Adjusts the consistency of the sauce and also adds savory flavor.
  • Heavy Cream:Creates a luxurious, creamy texture. You can also use half and half as a lighter option.
  • Parmesan Cheese:Grated parmesan adds sharp,cheesy flavor and richness.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes:Tangy and delicious, for that classic ‘Marry Me’ flavor!
  • Paprika:Adds a bit of smoky warmth.
  • Italian Seasoning:Blend of herbs like oregano,basil,and thyme.
  • Fresh Basil:Aromatic garnish that adds a pop of freshness!

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta

How to make this knockout dinner in just 30 minutes! My family loves marry me chicken pasta so much, it’s always in the dinner rotation.

  1. Cook Penne: Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and then set aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.
  2. Cut Chicken: Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Sear Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.
  4. Set Aside: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, and set it aside while you make the sauce.

Sauce

  1. Sauté Garlic, Make Roux: Return to the same skillet, then add the butter. Once it is melted, sauté the garlic for 30 seconds until it’s fragrant. Then add in the flour and stir to make a paste.
  2. Add Liquid Ingredients and Cheese: Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
  3. Stir in Remaining Ingredients: Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Simmer: Simmer the sauce for a few minutes so it can thicken.
  5. Combine: Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Then stir to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce.
  6. Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2)

Tips for Success

Marry me chicken pasta is really straightforward and simple to make, but here are a few extra tips to ensure you end up with perfection.

  • Check the Temperature of Your Chicken: The best way to check if your chicken is done and keep it from overcooking is by using a meat thermometer. It should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit. (74 degrees celcius)
  • Add a Little Heat: Bring more warmth to the dish by sprinkling in red pepper flakes to taste!
  • Use Freshly-Grated Cheese: I know it’s not quite as convenient, but if possible, use freshly grated Parmesan! It has better flavor and will melt more evenly into the sauce.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (3)

How to Store Marry Me Pasta

Everyone will love this marry me pasta so much that I doubt you will have leftovers. But in case you do, save and heat up your leftovers for a quick and satisfying lunch!

  • In the Refrigerator:Keep leftovers tightly covered in an airtight containerfor up to 4 days.
  • To Reheat: Reheat gently in the microwave or stovetop over medium-low heat, and you’re ready to go! Add a splash of cream if needed for moisture.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (4)

For Dipping in That Amazing Sauce:

Bread

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks

2 hrs 5 mins

Rolls

1-Hour Rolls

1 hr 3 mins

Side Dishes

Easy Homemade Garlic Knots

35 mins

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Marry Me Chicken Pasta

4.91 from 11 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Reader-favorite ‘Marry Me Chicken’ made even better with tender penne pasta! The noodles hold the cheesy, sun-dried tomato sauce inside for a burst of flavor in each bite! It’s sure to win over anyone that tries it.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

Chicken Pasta

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 10 ounces penne pasta
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce

Instructions

Chicken Pasta

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.

  • Cut the chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper.

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and cooked through.

  • Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, and set it aside while you make the sauce.

Sauce

  • Return to the same skillet, then add the butter. Once it is melted, sauté the garlic for 30 seconds until it's fragrant. Add in the flour and stir to make a paste.

  • Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.

  • Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.

  • Simmer the sauce for a few minutes for it to thicken.

  • Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Stir to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce.

  • Garnish with chopped basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 646kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 41gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 962mgPotassium: 1248mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 1260IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 278mgIron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian American, tuscan

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

How many chicken breasts are in a pound? ›

As a rule of thumb, you'll get about 2 to 3 chicken breasts to the pound. But it really depends on how big they are. One pound roughly equals 454 g. So, if we divide 454 g by the average weight of a chicken breast — 174 g, for those at the back — that gives us around 2.6 chicken breasts in a pound.

Which is the tastiest chicken dish in the world? ›

Butter chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, has recently claimed the top spot in the "Top 100 Chicken Dishes in the World" list by TasteAtlas, (an online guide for traditional food) solidifying its place as a global culinary sensation.

How much protein is in Marry Me chicken? ›

It features the same tender boneless chicken breasts nestled in a tomato cream sauce but replaces heavy cream with cream cheese and half-and-half and adds spinach for an extra veggie. The finished dish is so rich and cozy that you won't even know the cream is missing. Plus, each serving has 30 grams of protein!

How many breasts is 10 lbs? ›

10lbs contains 7 packages, 14 breasts total, in packages of 2. Note: number of packages might vary depending on availability but will be the correct weight.

How many people does 1lb of chicken breast feed? ›

For an average family of four, plan on about 1 pound of chicken or turkey (without bone or skin). Following are some averages for specific chicken and turkey pieces, but keep in mind that the size of chicken parts can vary greatly. For instance, some boneless chicken breast halves can weigh as much as 12 ounces!

How many servings is 10 lbs of chicken? ›

It's easier, when thinking about servings is to take the 10 pounds and break it down into 8 oz servings (protein does shrink when cooked) - which would be 20 servings.

What are Chick Fil A chicken made of? ›

Because chicken is at the center of our menu, we serve only real breast meat with no fillers, artificial preservatives, or steroids. Like other chicken in the United States, ours contains no added hormones. We source our chicken from farms in the U.S. in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards.

What is mock chicken legs made of? ›

What is "mock chicken leg?" The basics: Mock chicken leg is pork – or in some cases veal, or other meats – ground up, molded to resemble a drumstick, breaded and fried. It looks similar to the original McNugget, only bigger.

What are the ingredients in mock chicken? ›

Mechanically separated meats (turkey and/or pork), Pork and/or beef, Water, Modified corn starch, Modified milk ingredients, Soy protein isolate, Salt, Potassium lactate, Monosodium glutamate, Sodium phosphate, Onion powder, Sodium erythorbate, Sodium diacetate, Spices, Sodium nitrite, Wheat flour, Mustard.

What is Chinese honey chicken made from? ›

Honey Chicken Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need boneless skinless chicken breasts, eggs, salt, black pepper, all purpose flour, corn starch, oil, green onions, honey, soy sauce, water, sesame oil and apple cider vinegar.

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