Why is it called "Marry Me Chicken"?

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.

What is Marry Me Chicken made of?

This dish, in all its forms, will always include chicken in a rich seasoned cream sauce with fresh thyme, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Why is my Marry Me Chicken sauce not thickening?

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.

Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Name: Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 3-4 cups dice or shredded rotisserie chicken; 1 pound pasta, cooked al dente and drained; 4 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 cup minced shallot; 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato, soaked (SEE NOTE); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 4 sprigs of thyme; 3 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup flour; 2-3 cups chicken stock; 2 cups heavy whipping cream; 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese; fresh basil

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

Units Scale

3-4 cups dice or shredded rotisserie chicken
1 pound pasta, cooked al dente and drained
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced shallot
1/2 cup sun-dried tomato, soaked (SEE NOTE)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 sprigs of thyme
3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup flour
2-3 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
fresh basil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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