Description

Tasty Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces cooked in a rich sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce, tossed with al dente penne pasta and garnished with fresh basil. This comforting skillet meal combines simple ingredients with a luscious sauce for an irresistible dinner option.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

1 tbsp olive oil
1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken, pounded to even thickness
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp pepper

For the Pasta:

10 oz penne pasta

For the Sauce:

1 cup drained sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed for best flavor)
3 tbsp butter (preferably Kerrygold for richness)
2 cups chicken broth
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp paprika
1 cup heavy cream (room temperature)
3 tbsp flour
2 tsp minced garlic (fresh preferred)

For the Garnish:

Fresh basil leaves, torn just before serving

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Boil the penne pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
Prepare the Chicken: Cut the pounded chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the chicken pieces, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until no longer pink and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the flour to form a paste, cooking briefly. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then add the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until smooth. Incorporate the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and dried Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer for several minutes until it thickens.
Combine Chicken and Pasta: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the sauce, then add the drained pasta. Stir thoroughly to coat the chicken and pasta evenly with the creamy sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat, garnish the dish with torn fresh basil leaves and optional extra Parmesan cheese just before serving to add fresh flavor and color.

Notes

Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for deeper flavor in the sauce.
Pounding the chicken to even thickness ensures uniform cooking.
For extra richness, Kerrygold butter is recommended though regular butter works fine.
Cook the pasta al dente to prevent it from becoming mushy after mixing with the sauce.
Fresh basil added at the end preserves its vibrant flavor and aroma.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato pasta, one skillet pasta, easy dinner recipe, creamy Italian chicken