This pasta dish isn't asking for much. Not marriage, not even a proposal. With flavors inspired by the classic dish, this one is much more interested in a really good hang. Like, come-as-you-are, let's relax on the couch and visit. Marry Me Chicken Pasta uses all the classic Marry Me Chicken ingredients but in a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Take the fuss out of all of it! Make this hit chicken dish even faster with a one-pot slam dunk the whole family will love. You'll save so much time by using rotisserie chicken. And if you prep the handful of ingredients before starting, the whole recipe comes together in a snap!
Read on for all the loving details to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
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Featured Ingredients
Read below about a few of the ingredients used to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
Chicken - Pull the chicken off the bones in large pieces, then add it in at the end of the cooking process to keep it as tender as possible. The chicken will fall apart as it cooks, so larger pieces will fall apart into the perfect bite size you'll need.
Pasta - Use 1 pound of the pasta you prefer, cooked al dente. I suggest shredding the chicken if you use a long noodle like spaghetti. However, if you use a shorter pasta, then dice the chicken. I used Bucatini pasta. It's like spaghetti, but the noodle is hollow. I love the texture, and it holds up well to the heavy chicken and sauce.
Sun-dried tomatoes - These will come either packed in oil or dry. I prefer the dry style for a few reasons. They tend to be less expensive, less messy, and easier to dice.
Heavy whipping cream - Do not to substitute this ingredient. The whipping cream holds up to the heat and becomes luxurious as it reduces. Regular milk or half and half does not work the same.
Parmesan cheese - You'll be melting this into the sauce, so it's best to shred the parmesan cheese fresh off the brick. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in an anti-clumping agent which can lead to grainy sauce.
See recipe card for quantities.
Tools for the job
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Large skillet (or use only the large pot for a one-pot meal)
- 3+ quart pot & colander
- Stirring spoon
How to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Before starting the cream sauce
- Boil the pasta to al dente in salted water according to package directions. After draining the pasta, coat the noodles in olive oil so they don't stick while you prepare the meal.
- Once the water starts boiling, remove enough hot water to soak the sun-dried tomatoes before adding the pasta. Drain and dice the tomatoes after 10-15 minutes, then set them aside.
Pull the meat off the chicken and cook the pasta.
Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in boiled water for 10-15 minutes.
Make the creamy sauce
- Warm a large skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil. After the butter melts and the foam subsides, add the diced shallots and saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add the sundried tomatoes, minced garlic, thyme sprigs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. You'll need to saute this mixture for a few more minutes before adding the flour.
- Stir the flour to coat everything and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth. It's best to have room temperature or warm broth.
Saute the shallots in butter until softened.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir in flour.
Add broth after cooking the roux and stir until thickened.
- Continue to whisk the mixture. Once the broth has thickened, whisk in the heavy whipping cream.
- Turn the heat up to simmer the sauce until it has been reduced by half. Keep an eye on the sauce, stirring it occasionally. You may need to adjust the heat as the cream reduces so it doesn't burn. This should take 5-10 minutes.
- When the sauce is the right consistency, remove the thyme sprigs. Then, season to taste. Next, stir in the shredded parmesan, followed by the chicken.
- Continue to cook everything until the chicken is warm enough, then stir the pasta into the creamy chicken sauce.
- To serve Marry Me Chicken Pasta, scatter thin-sliced fresh basil over the top of each dish.
After thickening the broth, add heavy whipping cream.
Next, stir in the chicken and parmesan cheese. Cook until the chicken is heated through.
Last, fold in the pasta. Cut the past smaller if needed.
Hot Tip!
You can make this a one-pot meal by boiling the pasta first and then making the cream sauce in the same pot. I would rather clean a second pot and have the meal done faster! Toss the pasta with some olive oil so it doesn't stick to itself while you're making the rest of the dish. 2-4 tablespoons should be enough for 1 pound of pasta. I do this right in the colander.
Substitutions and Variations
- Chicken - Feel free to use any version of chicken you'd like. You can buy pre-cooked frozen chicken and reheat it or even make your chicken from scratch.
- Pasta - Use what you have on hand or what you prefer. This dish works well with just about any type of pasta. Cook it al dente because it will cook again in the sauce.
Leftover Marry Me Chicken Pasta
- Refrigerate leftover Marry Me Chicken Pasta in a sealed container for 4-5 days.
- Reheat leftovers on the stove in a covered skillet over low heat. Add some water, milk, or cream to the pan to help reconstitute the sauce.
- You can try freezing leftovers in a well sealed container for up to 3 months, but the pasta texture and sauce may not reheat the same.
FAQ
There is a long-standing story across the internet that this dish is so tasty that a person can serve it to their partner, and they will love it so much they'll propose marriage.
This dish, in all its forms, will always include chicken in a rich seasoned cream sauce with fresh thyme, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes.
To thicken a sauce, you need to use the correct ratio of thickener to liquid. If you use too much liquid, your thickener (roux, cornstarch, etc) won't work.
Also, that liquid will need to come to a certain temperature to activate the thickening process. Bringing it to a boil, then lowering it to a simmer, usually does the trick. Stir often or constantly.
If you are thickening by reducing (or boiling down) a liquid, this takes time. To reduce cream, stir often and keep an eye on it so it doesn't boil over as it reduces.
Food Safety
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with a high smoke point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
More chicken recipes
Winner winner chicken dinner!
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Description
Fall in love with Marry Me Chicken Pasta, a flavorful dish that brings together the classic Marry Me Chicken ingredients in a quick and easy recipe. Perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 3-4 cups dice or shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 pound pasta, cooked al dente and drained
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup minced shallot
- ½ cup sun-dried tomato, soaked (SEE NOTE)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 sprigs of thyme
- 3 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup flour
- 2-3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ¾ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- fresh basil
Instructions
- Boil the pasta to al dente in salted water according to package directions.
- Once the water starts boiling, remove enough to soak the sun-dried tomatoes. After 10-15 minutes, dice the tomatoes and set them aside.
- Warm the skillet on the stove over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil. When the butter foam subsides, add the shallots and saute for 5-7 minutes. Add the sundried tomatoes, garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Saute for a few more minutes, and then add the flour.
- Stir the flour to coat everything and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the broth. Once it's thickened, whisk in the heavy whipping cream.
- Simmer the sauce until it has been reduced by half. Remove the thyme sprigs. Season to taste after reducing, then stir in the shredded parmesan followed by the chicken.
- Continue to cook until the chicken is warmed, then stir the pasta into the creamy chicken sauce.
- To serve the Marry Me Chicken Pasta, scatter thin-sliced fresh basil over the top of each dish.
Notes
NOTE: If your sun-dried tomatoes are the non-oily kind, it's helpful to rehydrate them before cooking. Add the prepared tomatoes to a dish with boiling water and let them sit for 10 minutes. Drain them before adding them to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stove-top
- Cuisine: Italian-American
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