Marry me chicken pasta is a classic Italian dish that's packed with flavor and easy to make. Named for how well the flavors marry, this delicious pasta features flavorful chicken thighs, spinach, and gluten free pasta in a rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.
Chicken, pasta, and creamy sauce are a classic combo everyone loves. Recipes like this chicken bacon mushroom pasta have been staples in my family for years. They're easy to make, and they leave everyone wanting more. This recipe is much the same, with its rich flavor and easy preparation.
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Why You'll Love This Marry Me Chicken with Pasta
- Basic Ingredients: This recipe uses chicken thighs and simple ingredients you can find in any grocery store.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is basically boiling pasta, searing chicken, and simmering ingredients. It's very easy.
- Classic Flavor: This is the classic marry me chicken, with the flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, creamy sauce, spinach, and Italian spices.
- Hearty: This recipe makes enough to feed a hungry family and leave them all satisfied.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Video
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: Chicken thighs give this dish a deep, rich chicken flavor.
- Seasoning: Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and pepper give both the chicken and sauce complex flavor with a slightly smoky and sweet undertone.
- Sundried Tomato Oil: Using sundried tomato oil keeps the chicken from sticking to the pan and adds even more flavor.
- Spinach: Spinach adds color and texture to the dish.
- Chicken Broth and Heavy Cream: Chicken broth and cream create a rich sauce for the dish.
- Tomato Puree: Tomato puree creates the signature tomato flavor of the cream sauce.
- Farfalle Pasta: This gluten free pasta is a fun shape that holds the sauce well.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Chicken Breast: You can use chicken breasts in place of chicken thighs.
- Spicy: Try adding red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Extra Cheesy: If you love cheese, try adding mozzarella to the sauce for an extra cheesy sauce.
- Pasta: Any short, textured pasta will work well in this recipe.
How to Make This Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
Chicken
1: Wash the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels, then add them to a medium bowl and coat them with all the spices.
2: Sear the chicken on both sides in the sundried tomato oil on medium heat. Then, lower the heat, cover, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Set is aside to cool. I love the ThermoPro Lightning thermometer for its almost instant read and accuracy. Use Code: Nicole20 for 20% off.
Pasta
1: Boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
2: Cook the shallots, onions, and tomato paste with butter in the same skillet as the chicken until fragrant. Then, add the flour and cook a bit more.
3: Add the broth, cream, and spinach and cook until the sauce thickens and the spinach wilts. Then, add the parmesan cheese.
4: Dice the cooled chicken into bite-size pieces. Then, add the pasta and chicken to the pan and gently stir. Garnish with fresh basil.
Hint
Be sure to cook your pasta to al dente and no further to prevent the pasta from breaking apart when added to the dish.
Storage
Refrigerate this dish for up to 3 days in an air-tight, freezer-safe container. To reheat it, place it in a saucepan or large skillet and cook over medium-low until heated through.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Spinach
This is a complete meal, so keep things light and serve it with a little bread or breadsticks and a salad for a little more veggie goodness.
For dessert, finish things off with brownie cheesecake, lemon curd cake, or peanut butter brownies.
More Chicken Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Marry me chicken is an Italian-inspired dish made with chicken, herbs, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and heavy cream.
Marry me chicken gets its name from the producer for Lindsay Fulton, the creator of the dish. Upon taking a bite, he said, "I'd marry you for that chicken!"
In the past, sun dried tomatoes were dried in the sun. These days, they can be dried in the sun, a dehydrator, or an oven.
The most common culprit for grainy sauce is heat that's too high. If cream sauce is cooked at a temperature that's too high, it will break. The milk solids separate from the liquid, creating a grainy texture.
Related
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📖 Recipe
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¾ tbsp smoked sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon sun dried tomato oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes
Pasta
- 12 oz farfalle pasta
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoon dried shallots
- 2 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 3 tablespoon Bob's Red Mill 1:1 gluten free flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
- ¼ cup diced sun dried tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon tomato puree
- 1 cup diced spinach
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
Chicken
- Wash the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, coat the chicken with paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Heat the sun dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, sear the chicken for 3 minutes on both sides.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and place a lid on the pan. Then, cook the chicken thighs for 6 to 10 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Set the chicken aside to cool while you make the rest of the dish.
Pasta
- While the chicken is cooking, boil the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Then, drain it and set is aside.
- Saute the dried shallots, minced onion, minced garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and tomato paste in butter on medium-low heat for 2 minutes until fragrant. Then, add the flour and stir to combine.
- Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and spinach to the skillet.
- Cook until the sauce begins to thicken and the spinach is wilted. Then, add the parmesan cheese and stir until creamy.
- Dice the cooled chicken into bite size pieces while the sauce cooks.
- Add the diced chicken and the pasta to the skillet and stir gently. Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
DK says
Can never go wrong with a Chicken Pasta! Love how creamy and flavorful this is. Plus it's perfect if you'd like it extra cheesy and spicy!
Jacqueline Debono says
Although more Italian-American than actually Italian, this is a super creamy and tasty pasta recipe. Everyone wanted second helpings!
NKendrick says
Definitely Italian American! I am Italian but was born in America! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe!
Swathi says
Marry me chicken pasta is delicious, when I made it kids enjoyed it.
Criss says
I tried the Marry Me Chicken Pasta, and it was fantastic! The flavors were rich and creamy—definitely a keeper. Thanks for the great recipe!
NKendrick says
Thank you so much! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
NKendrick says
Thank you so much!
Garland powell says
sooo good and the flavor was amazing !
NKendrick says
Thank you so much!
Mbali says
These are literally the best recipes I’ve ever got to try😍
NKendrick says
Yay! Thank you for sharing!