Description
Creamy, flavorful, and irresistibly delicious, this Marry Me Chicken Pasta combines tender chicken, a luscious sun-dried tomato Parmesan cream sauce, and al dente pasta for a dish that will make anyone fall in love. Perfect for date nights or a cozy family dinner, this pasta is packed with rich, savory flavors and a hint of spice to keep things interesting!
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into cutlets)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust for spice level)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Pasta:
- 12 oz rotini pasta (or preferred pasta)
- Water and salt for boiling
For Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
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Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini until al dente. Drain and set aside.
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Prepare the Chicken: Season chicken cutlets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika on both sides.
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Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
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Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Melt butter in the same skillet, then add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
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Deglaze & Simmer: Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any brown bits. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened.
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Combine Everything: Slice the chicken into strips and return it to the pan. Add the drained rotini pasta and toss until fully coated in the sauce.
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Garnish & Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Protein Swap: Use shrimp or salmon instead of chicken.
- Dairy-Free: Substitute coconut cream for heavy cream and use dairy-free Parmesan.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta and ensure all other ingredients are GF-certified.
- Spicier Version: Add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT20M
- Category: Main Course, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ of recipe
- Calories: ~650 kcal
- Sugar: ~6g
- Sodium: ~750mg
- Fat: ~36g
- Saturated Fat: ~18g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~14g
- Trans Fat: ~0g
- Carbohydrates: ~52g
- Fiber: ~4g
- Protein: ~40g
- Cholesterol: ~110mg
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken Pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, romantic dinner recipe, easy chicken pasta, date night pasta