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The Ultimate Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta: Restaurant Quality in Under 30 Minutes

Close-up of creamy marry me chicken pasta featuring penne, seasoned chicken pieces, and wilted spinach in a white bowl.
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Create a rich, restaurant-quality Marry Me Chicken Pasta quickly. This easy weeknight pasta dinner features tender chicken coated in a flavorful sun-dried tomato Parmesan cream sauce.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into 4 thin cutlets
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, prepare the chicken. In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Season both sides of the thin chicken cutlets evenly with this mixture.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for about 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until the cheese is melted and the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
  7. Stir the fresh spinach into the sauce until it wilts completely. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy sauce.
  9. Serve immediately. Top each serving with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For an even richer flavor, use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar instead of olive oil to sear the chicken.
  • If you want a one pot chicken pasta idea, cook the pasta directly in the sauce using extra broth, adding more liquid as needed to cook the pasta fully.
  • This dish is excellent for date night pasta meals because it looks impressive but cooks fast.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/marry-me-chicken-pasta-recipe/