Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a flavorful, creamy dish that combines tender chicken, al dente rigatoni pasta, and a rich sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in under 30 minutes, this restaurant-quality meal is perfect for date nights or family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and slice into thin, even pieces. Season with salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add heavy cream and stir to combine.
- Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return cooked chicken to the skillet, including any accumulated juices. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted.
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing until well-coated with sauce. If too thick, add reserved pasta water as needed.
- Allow pasta to simmer in the sauce for 1-2 minutes to absorb flavors.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use thinly sliced chicken for faster cooking and better flavor absorption.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes provide more flavor than dry-packed varieties.
- For extra depth, add 1/4 cup of dry white wine after cooking the garlic.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated cheese with anti-caking agents.
- This dish can be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers will thicken as they cool; add a splash of cream when reheating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: marry me chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, easy dinner recipes, weeknight pasta recipe, chicken rigatoni, date night dinner, creamy pasta sauce, family dinner ideas