Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe – Creamy & Easy
If there’s one pasta recipe that deserves the name Marry Me Chicken Pasta, this might be it. We’re talking juicy, perfectly seasoned chicken, tender pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce that coats every single bite.
And listen, I can’t promise anybody is actually going to propose after eating this—but I definitely understand how this recipe got its name.
This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe is one of those meals that looks and tastes like you spent all night in the kitchen, but it’s actually easy enough to pull together for a weeknight dinner. The combination of garlic, shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken stock, heavy cream, Parmesan, and spinach creates a creamy sauce with layers of flavor without making the recipe complicated.
Love this easy recipe? You’re in the right place! Check out my Louisiana Chicken Pasta and Bourbon Chicken
Moreover, I also like adding a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan. It’s completely optional, but it adds another layer of flavor to the sauce and helps pick up all those delicious browned bits left behind from cooking the chicken.
Whether you’re making dinner for the family, planning a date night at home, or just craving a big bowl of creamy pasta, this is one recipe you’re going to want to save.
Why You’ll Love This Marry Me Chicken recipe:
There are plenty of reasons this recipe needs to make it into your dinner rotation:
- Rich and creamy Parmesan sauce
- Tender, flavorful chicken breast
- Ready in about 45 minutes
- Easy enough for a weeknight
- Impressive enough for date night
- Loaded with garlic and sun-dried tomato flavor
- Spinach adds color and freshness
- Easy to customize
- Uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients
- Leftovers are just as delicious
But what really makes this creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta special is the balance of flavors.
The sun-dried tomatoes bring a slightly sweet, tangy flavor, the Parmesan adds saltiness and nuttiness, and the heavy cream brings everything together into a silky sauce. Add juicy chicken and perfectly cooked pasta and you’ve got comfort food done right.
What Is Marry Me Chicken Pasta?
Marry Me Chicken is a popular creamy chicken dish typically made with chicken, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and heavy cream.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta takes those same flavors and turns them into a complete pasta dinner.
The name comes from the idea that the dish is so good, somebody might just propose after trying it. I don’t know about all that—but I do know that creamy chicken, Parmesan, garlic, and pasta is a combination that’s hard to beat.
My version adds shallots, spinach, chicken stock, and optional white wine to create even more depth in the sauce.
Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta
You don’t need anything complicated to make the best Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
- Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless chicken breast works perfectly for this recipe. Cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces gives you more surface area for seasoning and browning.
- Pasta: Penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, linguine, or your favorite pasta will work. I especially like a pasta shape that can hold onto plenty of that creamy sauce.
- Shallot: Shallots have a slightly sweeter and more delicate flavor than regular onions and work perfectly in creamy pasta sauces. If you don’t have shallots, you can substitute a small yellow onion.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must. It adds tons of flavor to the cream sauce.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes are one of the signature ingredients in Marry Me Chicken. I recommend using sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil. They’re tender, flavorful, and you can even use a little of the oil from the jar when cooking your chicken.
- White Wine: White wine is optional, but I love what it does for this sauce. A dry white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay works best. It helps deglaze the skillet and adds acidity that balances out the richness of the cream. Don’t want to use wine? No problem. Just use additional chicken stock.
- Chicken Stock: Chicken stock adds savory flavor and keeps the sauce from becoming too heavy.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream gives Marry Me Chicken Pasta its signature rich and creamy consistency.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan melts directly into the cream and creates a smooth, cheesy sauce. I strongly recommend grating your own Parmesan instead of using the pre-shredded kind.
- Spinach: Fresh spinach wilts directly into the sauce and adds color, texture, and freshness.
- Seasonings: Seasoning is what takes simple chicken and turns it into something worth talking about.
- I use a combination of my Bayou city seasonings, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. A little crushed red pepper can also be added if you like a touch of heat.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
The key to this recipe is building flavor in layers. Don’t rush the process—especially when you’re browning the chicken and building your sauce.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Season the Chicken: Coat chicken breasts with seasonings, then cook in olive oil until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the white wine and use your spoon to scrape up all those browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let the wine simmer until it reduces by about half. (If you’re making your Marry Me Chicken Pasta without wine, use some of your chicken stock for this step instead.) dd the chicken stock and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Reduce the heat and pour in the heavy cream. Add Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper flakes if you’re using them. Allow everything to come to a gentle simmer.
- Combine: Add spinach and let it wilt. Return the chicken to the skillet and coat with sauce. Add cooked pasta and toss everything together.
- Serve: Slice the chicken if desired, then serve over pasta garnished with fresh basil or parsley.
Chef Tips for the Best Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Don’t Overcook the Chicken
Chicken breast can dry out quickly. Sear it just until cooked through, remove it from the skillet, and add it back toward the end.
Use Freshly Grated Parmesan
This makes a huge difference.
Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking ingredients that can prevent it from melting smoothly.
Fresh Parmesan gives you a much silkier sauce.
Save Your Pasta Water
Always save some pasta water before draining your noodles.
If your sauce gets too thick, a splash of pasta water can bring it right back together.
Don’t Boil the Cream Sauce
Keep the heat around medium-low after adding the heavy cream.
A gentle simmer is all you need.
Use the Sun-Dried Tomato Oil
Want even more flavor?
Use a tablespoon or two of the oil from your sun-dried tomato jar to sear the chicken.
There’s already a ton of flavor in that oil, so don’t waste it.
What Pasta Is Best for Marry Me Chicken?
One of the best things about this Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe is that you can use several different pasta shapes.
Penne and rigatoni are great because the sauce gets inside the pasta. Fettuccine and linguine are great if you want long noodles coated in creamy sauce.
You could also use:
- Bow tie pasta
- Rotini
- Bucatini
- Spaghetti
- Cavatappi
Use whatever you have on hand.
What to Serve With Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Because the pasta itself is rich and filling, I like keeping the sides simple.
Try serving it with:
- Garlic bread
- Roasted broccoli
- Green beans
- Asparagus
- Caesar salad
- Simple garden salad
- Roasted Brussels sprouts
And if you’re making this for date night, grab that bottle of wine you used for the sauce and pour yourself a glass.
FAQ
Q: Can I use a different type of pasta?
A: Yes! Any pasta shape works well with this dish. Penne, fettuccine, and bowties are all great options.
Q: Can I make Marry Me Chicken Pasta ahead of time?
A: While best served fresh, you can prepare the sauce ahead and reheat it gently when ready to serve. Cook the pasta fresh for the best texture.
Q: What can I use instead of heavy cream?
A: Half-and-half or whole milk can be used for a lighter sauce, though the texture will be slightly thinner.
Q: Is this dish spicy?
A: The heat level is mild with the cayenne pepper, but you can adjust it to your preference by adding more or less.
More Dinner recipes:
- Creamy Chicken Spaghetti
- The Perfect Chicken Breast Recipe (Juicy, Buttery, Oven-Finished)
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Louisiana Chicken Pasta
- Chipotle Chicken Tacos
If you loved this Marry Me Chicken Pasta, let me know in the comments. Follow me on TikTok and Instagram for more delicious recipes!
My Creamy Chicken Spaghetti is another great option when you’re craving a cheesy chicken pasta, and this is the perfect opportunity to internally link to other chicken, pasta, and one-pan dinner recipes across the site.
Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just al dente according to the package instructions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and cut them into bite-sized pieces or strips. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for about 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the olive oil from the sun dried tomato jar to the same skillet. Add the shallot and sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
- If using white wine, pour it into the skillet and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Allow the wine to simmer for 2–3 minutes, or until reduced by roughly half.
- If you’re skipping the wine, simply move straight to the chicken stock.
- Pour in the chicken stock and allow it to simmer for 2–3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Avoid a hard boil so the cream doesn’t separate.
- Gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan until melted and the sauce is smooth. Add the spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes, until wilted.
- Return the chicken to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Toss until everything is completely coated in the creamy sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and seasonings as needed.
- Finish with freshly chopped parsley, plenty of freshly grated Parmesan, and a little cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.
This dish looks so good! I’m totally making it!
so Glad you are trying it out! let me know how it turns out
Delicious!!! 😋
My husband could not stop saying how good this was.. He wants it once a week now. Thanks for sharing your recipes .