Cheesy Marry Me Chicken Pasta is indulgent and incredibly flavorful. Tender pieces of chicken are tossed in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach, then combined with al dente pasta for a comforting, date-night-worthy meal.
This Marry Me Chicken Pasta is rich, comforting, and surprisingly easy to prepare—perfect for a special dinner at home. A luscious cream sauce coats the chicken and pasta, turning simple ingredients into an elegant comfort dish. Serve it for a romantic evening or anytime you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
Swoon-Worthy Marry Me Chicken Pasta
- Decadently rich: butter, cream, and Parmesan combine for a deeply satisfying sauce.
- Elevates weeknight dinner: the cream sauce gives this dish an upscale feel without extra fuss.
- Quick and simple: minimal hands-on time makes it achievable in about 30 minutes of active cooking.
What You’ll Need
Below are the main ingredients. Exact amounts and full directions are provided in the recipe card included in this post.
- Pasta: penne works well, but shells, ziti, or other shapes are fine.
- Chicken: boneless, skinless breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Seasonings: salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Olive oil & butter: for searing and building the sauce.
- Aromatics: garlic and red onion for flavor depth.
- Wine: dry white wine for deglazing; substitute extra chicken broth if avoiding alcohol.
- Chicken broth: adds savory body to the sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: for concentrated tomato flavor; tomato paste or roasted tomatoes can work in a pinch.
- Sauce: heavy cream and finely grated Parmesan cheese create a silky finish.
- Greens & garnish: baby spinach wilted into the sauce, plus fresh basil and crushed red pepper flakes to finish.
Tips and Variation Ideas
- Deglazing explained: Pouring wine or broth into the hot skillet lifts browned bits from the pan and builds flavor in the sauce.
- Use rotisserie chicken: Swap in shredded rotisserie chicken to save time—about 1½ pounds yields a hearty dish.
- Try different shapes: Ziti, shells, bowties, or fusilli are all good alternatives that catch the sauce differently.
- Skip the pasta: Make the chicken and sauce on their own and serve over rice or with crusty bread for dipping.
What Can You Serve On The Side?
This rich pasta benefits from simple sides. Serve with slices of crusty bread to soak up extra sauce or a rustic no-knead loaf. Add a green vegetable such as steamed broccoli, sautéed green beans, or roasted sugar snap peas for balance. A crisp, vegetable-forward salad—like avocado tomato salad or a crunchy cabbage slaw—pairs nicely too.
How to Store and Reheat Extras
- Fridge: Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over low heat until hot, adding a splash of milk or broth if the sauce thickened. Alternatively, reheat covered in the microwave in short intervals.
More Pasta Recipes to Try
- Bacon Mac and Cheese
- Mexican Spaghetti
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 ounces penne pasta
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 2 cups spinach leaves, packed
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 small handful fresh basil, for garnish
- crushed red pepper flakes, for garnish
Instructions
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Cook the Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water in case you need it to loosen the sauce.
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Prepare the Chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and paprika. Sear the pieces until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
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Sauté the Aromatics. Reduce heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and sliced red onion, cooking until fragrant and softened, about 2–3 minutes.
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Deglaze the Pan. Pour in the white wine and simmer 1–2 minutes while scraping up browned bits. Add chicken broth and sun-dried tomatoes and simmer another 2 minutes to concentrate the flavors.
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Make the Creamy Sauce. Stir in heavy cream, grated Parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 4–5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
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Combine Chicken and Spinach. Return the chicken to the skillet and add the spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts and the chicken is heated through, about 2–3 minutes.
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Toss with Pasta. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water one tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
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Serve. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh basil, extra Parmesan, and crushed red pepper flakes if you like. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Equipment
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High-sided skillet
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary according to ingredients and tools used.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Cook the pasta to just al dente so it holds its texture when tossed with the sauce. Below are the key steps, with photos showing the process from seasoning the chicken to finishing the plated dish.
- Cook the Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook penne until al dente.
- Prepare the Chicken. Season and sear the chicken in olive oil until golden, then set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics. In the same skillet, cook garlic and red onion until softened.
- Deglaze the Pan. Add white wine, scrape up browned bits, then stir in chicken broth and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Make the Sauce. Add heavy cream, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning; simmer until slightly thickened.
- Add Chicken & Spinach. Return chicken to the skillet and stir in spinach until wilted.
- Toss with Pasta. Combine pasta and sauce, thinning with reserved pasta water if needed, then serve hot.