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Say ‘I do’ to this delicious creamy Tuscan marry me chicken pasta recipe! This dish takes the beloved ‘Marry Me Chicken’ to a whole new level by adding ziti pasta, creating a mouthwatering combination of creamy, cheesy goodness in every umami flavor-filled bite. With succulent chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious cream sauce, this one-pan dinner is so good that it will surely win over anyone who tries it! Scoop up spoonful after spoonful of this incredible recipe and see exactly how it got its name.
Make the viral marry me chicken pasta recipe, coated in the ultimate rich and creamy sauce in just 30 minutes. You’ll crave it all the time!
Also try chicken fettuccine alfredo, buttery lemon chicken pasta, garlic chicken piccata, or this delicious chicken pasta casserole.
Why You’ll Love It
Rich and creamy sauce: This marry-me chicken pasta recipe uses butter, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese to create a luxurious, creamy sauce.
Delicious add-ins: All add-ins are perfect, but this base recipe can also take other add-ins, depending on what’s in your fridge.
Perfectly balanced: The dish goes from creamy, tangy and savory to fresh and herby, all in one bite.
Comfort food: It’s a hearty, satisfying meal that’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a special gathering.
Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Ziti pasta: A medium-sized tube-shaped pasta that holds creamy sauce well.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Cut chicken breast meat into bite-sized pieces for quick and even cooking. Chicken thigh meat or breast are both great.
Butter: Adds a creamy, rich base to the sauce.
Chicken broth: The perfect way to season – use the best quality broth you can (I love this organic free range chicken broth best!)
Heavy cream: Provides a luxurious, creamy texture to the sauce.
Parmesan cheese: Grated for a salty, nutty flavor that enriches the sauce.
Sun-dried tomatoes: Drained to remove excess oil, add a tangy sweetness and chewy texture.
Baby spinach: Adding baby spinach balances the richness of this recipe.
Fresh basil: Brightens this seriously rich marry me chicken recipe with pasta.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken with Pasta
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook pasta: Cook the ziti pasta until al dente, drain it, and set it aside.
Cook chicken: Season the chicken and heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until fully cooked. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
Make the sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add flour and stir to make a paste, cooking for about 1 minute.
Combine ingredients: Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and grated parmesan cheese. Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer the sauce for 5 to 7 minutes, or until it thickens.
Finish the dish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the cooked pasta and stir to coat everything in the sauce. Add the baby spinach and cook until it wilts and becomes tender.
Garnish and serve: Garnish with chopped fresh basil leaves. Add extra parmesan cheese if desired.
Substitutions and Variations
Protein: Swap the chicken for shrimp or white fish like halibut, salmon, or lobster.
Pasta: Bowtie, penne pasta, farfalle, fusilli. Other great options are zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Vegetables: Bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, or zucchini.
Rice: You could make the sauce without adding pasta and instead serve it over rice.
Vegan option: Use vegetable broth, dairy-free cream, and vegan cheese. Replace the chicken with tofu, tempeh, or more veggies.
Fresh tomatoes: Swap sun-dried tomatoes with fresh cherry or grape tomatoes.
Spicy kick: Add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizer: Kick off with a homemade mushroom and onion focaccia or Everything Bagel beer dogs.
Main: Pair marry me Tuscan chicken pasta with this lemon parmesan salad as a side salad and a garlic herbed bread wreath.
Dessert: End off with something light like this recipe for strawberry cheesecake lasagna.
How to Store Marry Me Chicken and Pasta
Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through. Add a splash of chicken broth and cream to thin the sauce.
Freezer: I do not recommend freezing this recipe as the noodles will change their texture and dairy doesn’t freeze well.
Reheat: Reheat leftovers gently in a microwave or on the stove.
Top Tips
Add wine: Add ¼ cup of dry white wine to the sauce for an added depth of flavor. If you add wine, reduce the chicken broth to 1¾ cups in your pasta dish.
Cook pasta al dente: Cook the pasta until it is al dente. It will continue to cook slightly when mixed with the sauce, so this prevents it from becoming mushy.
Season generously: Season the chicken breasts well with salt and pepper. Taste the sauce before serving and add a little more if needed.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Give each piece space in the skillet when cooking the chicken. This prevents it from steaming instead of browning.
Drain sun-dried tomatoes: Drain the sun-dried tomatoes well to avoid adding extra oil to the sauce.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta FAQs
To prevent the chicken from drying out, avoid overcooking it. Cook it until it’s no longer pink in the center.
Yes, you can add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce.
Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining the pasta. If the sauce becomes too thick, add the pasta water a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken Pasta:
- 10 Ounces ziti pasta
- 1 Pound boneless skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 Cups chicken broth
- 1 Cup heavy cream
- ½ Cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 Cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ¼ Teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
- 2 Cups baby spinach, packed
- basil, Finely chopped fresh, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Season chicken with salt and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Melt the butter in the same skillet, add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Add flour and stir to make a paste, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in the chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese.
- Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper.
- Simmer the sauce for 5 to 7 minutes or until thickened.
- Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Stir to coat the chicken and pasta in the sauce.
- Add the spinach and let cook until wilted down.
- Garnish with chopped basil leaves and additional parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
Cook pasta al dente: Cook the pasta until it is al dente. It will continue to cook slightly when mixed with the sauce, so this prevents it from becoming mushy.
Season generously: Season the chicken breasts well with salt and pepper. Taste the sauce before serving and add a little more if needed.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Give each piece space in the skillet when cooking the chicken. This prevents it from steaming instead of browning.
Drain sun-dried tomatoes: Drain the sun-dried tomatoes well to avoid adding extra oil to the sauce.
Nutrition
Try this recipe and discover the viral “marry me chicken pasta.” Succulent chicken and perfectly cooked pasta are enveloped in a luxuriously creamy sauce bursting with umami goodness. The sauce is enhanced with sundried tomatoes and parmesan cheese and harmonized with fresh spinach and basil. Enjoy each mouthful of this delectable dish and find out why it’s so famously irresistible.
Other Chicken Recipes To Try
- Whip up shredded chicken gyros for fall-apart tender chicken with a homemade tzatziki recipe.
- How utterly delicious do these lemon chicken thighs look?
- Make Crockpot lemonade chicken for the perfect way to cook tender lemon chicken.
- Pasta amatriciana is a bold-flavored Italian dish with white wine, pancetta and garlic in every bite.
- You’ll love this easy recipe for cheesy bacon Hasselback chicken.
- Whip up my air fried buffalo chicken tenders and watch them disappear.
- This marry me chickpeas recipe has chicken broth for that subtle chicken flavor and the creamiest, best ever sauce.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
I really liked this dish. It turned out way better than I thought.