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This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe features chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and pasta in a rich, flavorful sauce. It’s a simple one-pan creamy chicken pasta that’s an easy dinner recipe!
I am super excited to share this recipe with you! If you have followed me for a while, you may have tried my super popular, easy Marry Me Chicken dinner recipe. It is one of the most loved dinner recipes on Modern Honey, but we are now transforming all of those flavors into a pasta dish.
When I first recipe tested this, my eyes rolled back because I was so blown away by the flavor combos and how much I loved it. It’s so good someone might propose after eating it…or at the very least…fall in love with you all over again!
I love easy weeknight dinners that take less than 30 minutes. The beauty of this recipe is you can be cooking the pasta while making the sauce and create a restaurant-worthy dish at home in 30 minutes.
What is Marry Me Chicken Pasta?
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is rich, creamy pasta dish bursting with flavor. Juicy chicken, tender pasta, and a luxurious parmesan cream sauce come together with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic for a dish that feels both comforting and impressive. It’s the kind of recipe that looks fancy enough for a special occasion but is easy enough to make on a weeknight.
This viral favorite earned its name for a reason—one bite and it’s easy to see why people are obsessed. Whether you’re cooking for date night or just craving a cozy, indulgent pasta dinner, this is a recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
This dish exploded on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest for many reasons.
- It is RESTAURANT QUALITY yet easy to make.
- Rich and creamy sauce that is super flavorful.
- Easy one-pan dinner that feels fancy but is simple to make.
- Perfect for weeknights, date night, or hosting friends and family.
Ingredients:
- Butter – Creates a rich base for sautéing and adds depth to the sauce.
- Chicken – Use chicken breast or thighs.
- Onion – Dice small.
- Garlic – Use fresh garlic, adding it after the onion to prevent burning.
- Pasta – Use your favorite shape. Penne, rigatoni, farfalle, tagliatelle, fettuccine, or any pasta that sauce can cling to will work.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes (in oil) – Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for richer flavor
- Chicken Broth – Loosens the sauce.
- Heavy Cream – You can also use half-n-half. The sauce might be looser and not as rich.
- Fresh Basil – Adds brightness and freshness to balance the richness.
- Baby Spinach – Adds color, texture, and a boost of nutrients.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated melts best.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Adds subtle heat.
- Salt & Pepper
How to make the Best Marry Me Chicken Pasta:
Cook the pasta separately. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
Cook chicken. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper then add it to the skillet. Cook until it is lightly golden on the outside and fully cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan (that’s flavor!).
Let the sauce gently simmer for a few minutes to thicken slightly. Stir in sundried tomatoes, heavy cream, and red pepper flakes. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir in baby spinach (I like to chop the spinach leaves ahead of time) and parmesan cheese. Let parmesan cheese completely melt.
Add in cooked pasta and stir together. Add in some of the reserved pasta water if you desire a thinner sauce. Season with salt, pepper, optional italian seasoning, and fresh basil.
Serve with extra parmesan and basil ribbons.
If you love gnocchi, you’ll love my cozy Marry Me Gnocchi recipe that gets rave reviews. If you are looking for more flavors just like this one…try my Crockpot Marry Me Chicken and for dessert…make my Marry Me Cookies.
Tips to making the best pasta:
Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
Don’t overcook the garlic. Sauté with the onions for 1-2 minutes.
Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.
Adjust red pepper flakes to control spice level.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
Heavy cream is recommended for the richest sauce, but half-and-half can work for a lighter option. Milk may make the sauce too thin.
Yes, but it’s best served fresh. If making ahead, reheat gently with a splash of cream or broth to loosen the sauce.
Yes! Spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or peas are popular additions that pair well with the creamy sauce.
Storage:
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3–5 days. Reheat gently on the stove or microwave. Add a splash of cream, milk, or chicken broth to loosen the sauce.
Popular Pasta Recipes:
Side dishes to serve with pasta:
Be sure to check out these easy side dish recipes that pair perfectly with this creamy dish..
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Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Pasta (your choice of shape)
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 Onion (finely diced)
- 1 1/2 lbs. Chicken Breast (cut into cubes)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 4 Garlic Cloves (finely minced)
- 1 1/2 cups Chicken Broth
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 2/3 cup Sundried Tomatoes (in oil) (chopped)
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 cup Fresh Baby Spinach
- 4 ounces Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 5-6 Fresh Basil Leaves
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta separately. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to package instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Cook chicken. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper then add it to the skillet. Cook until it is lightly golden on the outside and fully cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan (that’s flavor!). Let the sauce gently simmer for a few minutes to thicken slightly. Stir in sundried tomatoes, heavy cream, and red pepper flakes. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in baby spinach (I like to chop the spinach leaves ahead of time) and parmesan cheese. Let parmesan cheese completely melt.
- Add in cooked pasta and stir together. Add in some of the reserved pasta water if you desire a thinner sauce. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed and optional italian seasoning, and fresh basil.
- Serve with extra parmesan and basil ribbons.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The best easy dinner recipe! Obsessed with the cream sauce it’s soooo flavorful!