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Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta: A Dish They’ll Adore!

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This Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a culinary promise that will wow your taste buds and inspire grand gestures. With tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a rich creamy sauce, it’s pure comfort food elevated to gourmet status.

Ingredients

  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic
  • shallot
  • sun-dried tomatoes
  • heavy cream
  • chicken broth
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • fresh baby spinach
  • red pepper flakes
  • olive oil
  • pasta (fettuccine, linguine, penne, or rigatoni)
  • non-alcoholic white cooking beverage or extra chicken broth with lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Prep Your Ingredients: Start by patting your chicken breasts dry and slicing them into thinner cutlets. Season them generously on both sides with salt, pepper, and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Chop your garlic, shallot, and sun-dried tomatoes.
  2. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 to 1 ½ cups of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  3. Sear the Chicken: Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of olive oil. Once shimmering, add the seasoned chicken cutlets in a single layer. Sear for 3-4 minutes per side until beautifully golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
  4. Build the Sauce Base: Reduce the heat to medium. If needed, add another teaspoon of olive oil to the pan. Add the chopped shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Then, stir in the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
  5. Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth (or non-alcohol alternative + lemon juice) and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
  6. Create the Creamy Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and the remaining Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
  7. Add Cheese and Spinach: Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it's completely melted and smooth. Then, add the baby spinach and stir until it just wilts into the sauce.
  8. Combine Everything: Return the cooked chicken (sliced or whole) to the sauce. Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything gently to ensure the pasta and chicken are thoroughly coated in the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add some of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
  9. Serve Immediately: Garnish with extra Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy your Marry Me Chicken Pasta!

Nutrition

Keywords: Don't overcook your pasta; it will continue to cook in the sauce. Reserve starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best texture and flavor.

Find it online: https://mamablueberry.com/creamy-marry-me-chicken-pasta-a-dish-theyll-adore/