One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, sundried tomato chicken pasta that's not only mouthwateringly good but also incredibly easy to make. It's packed with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious creamy sauce that's sure to have your family (or your SO!) swooning!
You've probably heard of the popular "Marry Me Chicken" recipe that's been going around the internet. This recipe turns that creamy chicken dish into a pasta version for an easy meal made in under an hour, and all in one pot! I love this easy-to-make recipe (just like my lazy lasagna recipe, easy cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole, and my easy dump and bake meatball casserole recipe). It's super delicious, ultra comforting, and who knows - maybe it will even snag you a marriage proposal!
In This Post
Why This Recipe Works
- One pot! Who doesn't want fewer dishes to clean up at the end of the night? This delicious chicken dish recipe is made even better by using just one pot and cutting down on the cleanup. (For a super easy crockpot chicken pasta, try this easy garlic parmesan chicken pasta.)
- Crowd pleaser. There's a reason this pasta has been dubbed "marry me" chicken pasta. A riff off of the original Marry Me Chicken, it's been claimed that if you make this for your significant other, you'll get a marriage proposal. While I can't promise that, I can promise that this pasta is incredibly delicious. The tanginess of the sundried tomatoes, the tender chicken, and the garlicky, creamy sauce come together to make a comforting meal that will quickly become a family favorite.
Key Ingredients
The ingredients for this dish are simple. Here are the star players (see a complete list of ingredients in the recipe card below):
- Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces for this recipe.
- Chicken stock: Using chicken stock instead of water to cook the pasta noodles makes them extra flavorful and adds to the richness of the dish.
- Heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. The cream and the cheese create a silky smooth sauce that coats the noodles and chicken.
- Sun-dried tomatoes. Provides a sweet, tangy flavor that complements the creamy sauce.
- Fresh basil. Adds a freshness to the pasta that compliments with the creamy sauce and tinyness of the sundried tomatoes.
How to Make One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
This delicious chicken recipe is made all in one pot, making it an easy dinner to prepare on a weeknight. Here's how to make it.
- Cook the chicken. Start by cutting your chicken pieces into bite-sized pieces and placing them in a bowl. Add some flour and shake the chicken until the pieces are coated. This will give the chicken a delicious breading. Cook the chicken in the pot until golden brown, then transfer to a plate. (Optional - at this point, you may have a bit of chicken sticking to the bottom of the pan. You can use a splash of dry white wine to deglaze the pan, but don't worry too much about it - most of it will easily come off once you add the chicken broth.)
- Make the tomato base. Add some butter and the shallots to the pot, then add the garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and make sure to stir the mixture constantly. Cook the tomato paste mixture for a couple of minutes before adding the spices.
- Cook the pasta. Add the chicken stock to the pot and bring to the boil. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any pieces of chicken from the bottom of the pan. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions (I like to cook it just a minute or two shy from becoming al dente).
- Make the sauce. Add the heavy cream, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes and stir well over medium heat until everything is well mixed and creamy. (If your cream sauce is a tad thin, you can thicken it by adding just a sprinkling of extra flour.)
- Add the chicken. Add the chicken back to the pot and stir until well incorporated.
- Serve. Serve in the same cooking pot and add extra sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil to the top of the pasta.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap out the protein. Substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a juicier option, or use shrimp for a seafood twist.
- Swap the shallots. Shallots have a nice mellow flavor which works great here, but if you can't find them, red onions will also do the trick.
- Add some veggies. Add spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to boost the veggie content.
- Add some extra creaminess. Add some cream cheese for an extra creamy texture.
- Try different cheeses. Try a blend of cheeses like mozzarella or asiago for extra flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like using short pasta shapes like penne, rotini, or rigatoni for this dish since the sauce is really able to coat the nooks and crannies of these noodles well, but any pasta will work. Feel free to use your favorite.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce if needed.
Yes, just be sure to drain them well before adding them to the dish. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes work best for this recipe.
This dish is best served fresh, but you can prepare the components (like the cooked chicken and chopped vegetables) ahead of time to save on prep.
If you try this One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta let me know what you think in the comments below! And don't forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Pasta Dishes
- Buffalo Wild Wings CrockPot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Pasta With Chickpeas, Spinach, And Tomatoes
- Cajun Shrimp Pasta
- Easy Lemon Salmon Pasta
- Creamy One Pot French Onion Soup Pasta
- Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole
- Lazy Baked Lasagna
- 5 Easy Ways To Make Frozen Ravioli
- Boursin Cheese Pasta With Chicken
Recipe
One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter divided
- 1 medium shallot minced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 ½ cups chicken stock
- 14 oz pasta (short noodles work best here)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ cup fresh basil roughly torn
- 1 handful Parmesan cheese shredded, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the chicken. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and place them in a bowl. Add the flour and toss the chicken until the chicken pieces are coated. Remove the pieces from the bowl with a slotted spoon, shaking off the excess flour. (Reserve the remaining flour for later). Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Carefully add the chicken to the pot and cook until the chicken pieces are golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce the heat of the pot and add the remaining butter and minced shallots to the pot. Cook for about one minute, then add the minced garlic and cook for one minute more. Add the tomato paste and, stirring constantly, cook for two minutes. Stir in the Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
- Add the stock and bring the pot to a boil, making sure to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the pasta and cook for about 10-12 minutes - just a minute or two shy of it being al dente.
- Add the cream, parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes and stir well until incorporated. Cook until the mixture has thickened slightly. (If the pasta sauce is not quite as thick as you'd like add a small sprinkle of the reserved flour you used to coat the chicken in.)
- Add the cooked chicken back to the pot and stir well. Remove from heat.
- Add the torn basil and stir to incorporate. Serve immediately with extra fresh basil and parmesan cheese for garnish.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave, or in the oven at 380 degrees for 30 minutes.
Andrea says
The ingredient list didn't call for parmesan, but the instructions do. Luckily I always have it on hand. This is delicious 😋 thank you
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Andrea! I updated the recipe! The Parmesan is optional for garnish (but we love it too!). So glad you enjoyed it!
Sage says
So easy to make and very tasty!
jane says
My husband enjoyed this One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Heather says
This has become one of our favorite weeknight dinner options. Easy and delicious...which is perfect for busy weeknights.
Michelle says
Delicious and very comforting! Went over very well with the family. Served with a side salad and garlic toast.
Sage says
Made this exactly as stated and it turned out great
Sarah Jenkins says
Thank you Sage!
Alice says
Loved this, so easy to make!
Sarah Jenkins says
Thanks Alice!
Charlie W. says
The best chicken dinner we have had in a very long time. 10/10
Elaine says
This was so easy and so delicious. Less mess to clean up too! So many wins here!
Gwen says
I love a good Marry Me anything. This chicken was super yummy!
Susan says
Yes!! This was a hit with my whole family! Will definitely make again!
Angela says
It was easy to make and packed with delicious flavors. Thanks for the great recipe!