Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Make this easy chicken recipe and enjoy a creamy, dreamy delight with our Marry Me Chicken Pasta – a juicy blend of tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich, savory tomato cream sauce.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword marry me chicken pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 674kcal

Author Ioana

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb Chicken Thighs cut into bite-size pieces
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Butter
3 Garlic cloves minced
1 cup Chicken Stock
1 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp Chili Flakes
1/4 tsp Oregano
1/4 tsp Thyme
1/2 cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes
2 tbsp Tomato Paste
10 oz Penne Pasta

Instructions

Melt the butter and garlic: Heat a pan over medium heat with olive oil, and melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until it smells fragrant.
1 tbsp Olive Oil, 1 tbsp Butter, 3 Garlic cloves
Cook the chicken: Add the chicken pieces in the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until it's done, which usually takes 7-10 minutes. Take out the cooked chicken and garlic from the pan.
1 1/2 lb Chicken Thighs, Salt & Pepper
Start cooking the pasta: In a separate pot, start cooking the pasta. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes, less than the package instructions recommend.
10 oz Penne Pasta
Prepare the creamy sauce: Return the pan with the melted butter and chicken juices to the heat. Add chicken stock, heavy cream, chili flakes, oregano, and thyme.
1 cup Chicken Stock, 1 cup Heavy Cream, 1 tsp Chili Flakes, 1/4 tsp Oregano, 1/4 tsp Thyme
Stir in the grated parmesan cheese. Mix until the cheese is completely melted.
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Simmer the sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Add tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste to the sauce and cook for 3 minutes. Then mix the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and ensure they are well combined with the sauce.
1/2 cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes, 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
Combine pasta and chicken: Drain the cooked pasta, then add the cooked chicken bites and the sauce. Mix everything thoroughly and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Taste and season: Taste the dish and season with salt and ground black pepper if needed.

Notes

Thicken Sauce as Desired: If you prefer a thicker sauce, use a roux or a touch of flour, as mentioned earlier.

Opt for Full-Fat Cream: To achieve the rich, velvety texture in the sauce, it's essential to use full-fat heavy cream. Half and half or single cream might not provide the necessary thickness for that luxurious mouthfeel.

Freshly Grated Parmesan: Investing in a block of good-quality Parmesan cheese and grating it yourself can make a world of difference. Freshly grated Parmesan is typically more flavorful and melts more smoothly into the sauce, compared to pre-grated, store-bought varieties which often contain anti-caking agents that can affect both flavor and texture.

Nutrition