Marry Me Chicken Pasta With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

🍝 Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

🛒 Ingredients

For the chicken:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

For the sauce:

• 3–4 cloves garlic, finely minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes — optional
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter

For the pasta:

• 300–350 g pasta — penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, or spaghetti
• Salt for the pasta water
• ½ cup reserved pasta water, as needed

👩‍🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken

Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If they are very thick, slice them horizontally into thinner cutlets so they cook evenly.

Season both sides with:

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Italian seasoning
• Paprika

Press the seasoning gently into the chicken.

2. Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt.

Add your pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente.

Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water. This starchy water will help loosen and emulsify the sauce later.

Drain the pasta and set it aside.

3. Sear the chicken

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Place the seasoned chicken into the hot skillet. Cook for about 4–5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until golden brown and cooked through.

The internal temperature should reach 165°F / 74°C.

Remove the chicken from the skillet and place it on a plate. Let it rest for a few minutes.

4. Cook the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes

Reduce the heat to medium.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the same skillet. Don’t clean the pan—the browned bits left from the chicken add lots of flavor.

Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for about 1–2 minutes.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly.

Be careful not to burn the garlic.

5. Add tomato paste

Stir in 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.

Cook it for about 1 minute while stirring.

This helps caramelize the tomato paste and gives the sauce a deeper, richer tomato flavor.

6. Make the creamy sauce

Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon or spatula.

This releases all those flavorful browned pieces from the chicken.

Let the broth simmer for about 2 minutes.

Then slowly pour in the heavy cream while stirring.

Add:

• Italian seasoning
• Oregano
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes, if using

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

7. Add Parmesan

Reduce the heat to low.

Gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously until it melts into the sauce.

The sauce should become smooth, creamy, and slightly thick.

Avoid boiling the sauce aggressively after adding the Parmesan, because high heat can cause the cheese and cream to separate.

8. Add the pasta

Add the cooked pasta directly into the skillet.

Toss everything together until the pasta is completely coated in the creamy sauce.

If the sauce seems too thick, add reserved pasta water 1–2 tablespoons at a time, stirring after each addition.

Continue until you reach your preferred consistency.

9. Add the chicken

Slice the cooked chicken into strips or bite-sized pieces.

You can either mix the chicken into the pasta or arrange it on top.

For an especially flavorful presentation, put the pasta on a serving plate and place sliced chicken over the top.

10. Finish with basil

Turn off the heat.

Add fresh chopped basil and give everything one final toss.

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, black pepper, Parmesan, or red pepper flakes if needed.

🍽️ How to Serve

Serve immediately while the pasta is hot and creamy.

Top with:

• Extra grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil
• A few chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• A small pinch of red pepper flakes
• Freshly cracked black pepper

It goes particularly well with garlic bread, toasted bread, or a simple green salad.

⭐ Tips for the Best Marry Me Chicken Pasta

• Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce. Pre-shredded Parmesan may not melt as well.
• Don’t overcook the chicken. Remove it as soon as it reaches 165°F/74°C.
• Save pasta water. The starch helps make the sauce silky and cling to the pasta.
• Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for maximum flavor. Drain them before chopping.
• Don’t boil the cream sauce aggressively. Keep it at a gentle simmer.
• For extra richness, add a small knob of butter at the end.
• For more heat, increase the red pepper flakes.
• For extra cheesiness, add a little more Parmesan just before serving.

⏱️ Approximate Timing

Prep: 15 minutes
Cooking: 25 minutes
Total: about 40 minutes
Serves: 4 people

The final dish should have tender, juicy chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, a thick creamy Parmesan sauce, and little bursts of sweet-tangy sun-dried tomato in every bite.