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Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta

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A rich and creamy pasta dish featuring tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a luscious Parmesan cream sauce that’s so good it might just earn you a proposal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • ½ cup yellow onion, diced
  • ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained and sliced)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups half and half
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • Optional: extra Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water until al dente. Drain, reserving about ½ cup of pasta water, and set aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 30 seconds, then slowly whisk in the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the half and half and bring to a gentle simmer. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is smooth.
  6. Stir in the cooked chicken and chopped spinach. Cook just until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes.
  7. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a few tablespoons at a time until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Serve warm, topped with extra Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For a richer sauce, substitute heavy cream for half and half. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melt and flavor. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stove with a splash of broth or cream to refresh the sauce.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.rapidrecipes.blog/creamy-marry-me-chicken-pasta/