Description

This Tasty Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces cooked in a luscious sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce, served over al dente penne pasta. Garnished with fresh basil, this recipe is perfect for a comforting and impressive meal that’s easy to prepare.

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 (torn just before serving)
Additional Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Boil the penne pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside while you prepare the chicken and sauce.
Prepare and Cook the Chicken: Cut the boneless, skinless chicken into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken pieces. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink and thoroughly cooked. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
Make the Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato 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 to avoid raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until smooth, then add the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously to create a rich, creamy sauce. Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, and dried Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to thicken and develop flavor.
Combine Chicken, Pasta, and Sauce: Add the cooked chicken pieces and drained pasta into the skillet with the creamy sauce. Stir well to evenly coat the pasta and chicken with the sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Garnish and Serve: Just before serving, garnish the pasta with torn fresh basil leaves and, if desired, a sprinkle of extra Parmesan cheese for added richness and color. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for the best flavor and texture in the sauce.
Pounding the chicken to even thickness helps it cook evenly and quickly.
Make sure the heavy cream is at room temperature before adding to the sauce to prevent curdling.
Kerrygold butter enhances richness but any high-quality unsalted butter works well.
You can substitute penne with other pasta types like rigatoni or fusilli if preferred.
This dish can be garnished with fresh basil just before serving to preserve its bright flavor and color.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 32 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Marry Me Chicken Pasta, creamy chicken pasta, sun-dried tomato sauce, penne pasta recipe, easy chicken dinner, comfort food pasta