Marry Me Chicken Pasta (One-Pot, 40-Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Cream)
The viral Marry Me Chicken turned into a one-pot weeknight dinner: golden seared chicken over penne cooked right in a creamy sun-dried tomato, garlic and Parmesan sauce, with spinach, basil and a hit of lemon zest. One pan, 40 minutes, and the pasta soaks up all the flavor.
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Ingredients
Serves 4
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken breastsabout 2 large, halved horizontally into 4 cutlets
- 1 tsp kosher saltplus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprikadivided
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jaror olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 shallotfinely chopped (or 1/2 small yellow onion)
- 4 cloves garlicminced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakesuse 1/4 tsp for milder
- 2/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoesdrained and chopped
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken brothplus a splash more if needed
- 12 oz penne pastaor rigatoni or medium shells
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheeseabout 3 oz; grate it yourself so it melts smoothly
- 2 cups baby spinachloosely packed
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leavestorn
- 1 lemonzest only
The method
Pat the chicken dry and slice each breast in half horizontally into thin cutlets. Season all over with the salt, pepper, 1/2 tsp of the smoked paprika and the Italian seasoning.
5 minHeat the sun-dried tomato oil and butter in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the cutlets without moving them for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until deep golden and 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part. Move to a cutting board to rest; don't wash the pan.
10 minLower the heat to medium. Add the shallot and cook for 2 minutes, scraping up the browned bits. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, the remaining 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, the red pepper flakes and the sun-dried tomatoes, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and the paste darkens slightly.
4 minPour in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pan clean. Bring to a boil, stir in the penne, then reduce to a lively simmer. Partially cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes so the pasta doesn't stick, until it's just short of al dente and most of the broth is absorbed.
12 minStir in the cream and simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the sauce coats it. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the Parmesan a handful at a time, then fold in the spinach until it wilts. If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with a splash of broth or water. Taste and add salt if needed.
4 minSlice the rested chicken and lay it over the pasta, drizzling any juices from the board on top. Finish with the torn basil and lemon zest and serve right away.
2 min
Timings are a guide. Use the instruction and your own judgment as you cook.
Why it’s called Marry Me Chicken
The story goes that this creamy, sun-dried tomato and Parmesan chicken is so good it inspires proposals. This version cooks the pasta right in the sauce, so the penne soaks up the garlic, smoked paprika and tomato flavor and you only wash one pan.
Tips for the best sauce
- Use the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar to sear the chicken. It’s free flavor.
- Grate the Parmesan from a block. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- Add the cheese off the heat so it melts smoothly instead of clumping.
- Pasta keeps absorbing sauce as it sits, so keep a little extra broth nearby to loosen it at the table.
Swaps
- Lighter: use half-and-half instead of cream, and stir it in over low heat so it doesn’t break.
- Thighs: boneless skinless chicken thighs work great; sear 5 to 6 minutes per side.
- Gluten-free: use a gluten-free pasta and add broth gradually, since GF pastas absorb liquid differently. Check the labels on the broth, Parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes too.
Leftovers
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of broth or milk to bring the sauce back to life. Cream sauces don’t freeze well, so this one is best enjoyed fresh.
Photo
Photo: “tomato cream sauce” by Ginny, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows a similar creamy tomato chicken pasta.
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