Description
This Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tender shredded chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a rich Parmesan cream sauce with al dente pasta. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it comes together quickly with simple ingredients and delivers gourmet flair right at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta (any shape)
- Salt, for boiling water
Sauce and Chicken
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- â…“ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- â…“ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups cooked or rotisserie chicken, shredded
- â…“ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 small handful fresh basil, torn or chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Make Sauce: While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 1 minute to create a roux.
- Add Aromatics and Liquids: Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, and white wine (or chicken broth). Cook for another minute while stirring, allowing the sauce to combine and the alcohol to cook off if using wine.
- Thicken Sauce: Gradually whisk in the heavy cream. Then add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, and shredded chicken. Allow the sauce to simmer gently until it thickens to your preferred consistency, about 3-5 minutes.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and torn basil leaves. Remove the skillet from heat and season the sauce generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Combine and Serve: Add the drained pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce and toss to coat evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.
Notes
- You can use any pasta shape you prefer, but penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine work particularly well.
- For a white wine substitute, chicken broth is a suitable non-alcoholic alternative that maintains flavor depth.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain off excess oil but consider adding a teaspoon for extra richness.
- Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut to save time, but freshly cooked chicken breasts or thighs shredded also work well.
- Adjust red pepper flakes for spice level according to your preference, or omit for a milder dish.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheated gently.
