Marry Me Chicken Pasta (Printable Version)
Creamy pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, seasoned chicken, and parmesan sauce ready in 40 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
→ Pasta
05 - 12 ounces penne or fettuccine pasta
→ Sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
09 - 1 cup chicken broth
10 - 1 cup heavy cream
11 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
13 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
→ Garnish
14 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
15 - Additional grated Parmesan cheese
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika, pressing the spices into the meat.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove chicken from skillet, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes.
04 - Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn. Add sliced sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute to release their oils.
05 - Pour in chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly reduced.
06 - Lower heat to medium and stir in heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce coats the back of a spoon and thickens slightly.
07 - Slice rested chicken into strips. Add cooked pasta and chicken slices to the sauce, tossing gently until well combined and heated through. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh herbs and additional Parmesan cheese.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in one pan and uses simple pantry staples you probably already have
- Its the kind of dinner that makes people pause and ask whats in this
02 -
- The sauce thickens as it stands, so dont over-reduce it in the pan
- Reserve some pasta water before draining—it saves you if the sauce gets too thick
03 -
- Use some of the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar instead of plain olive oil
- A rotisserie chicken works in a pinch, though searing fresh ones adds more depth