Description
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta with tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, garlic, and a rich tomato-cream sauce. A cozy, flavorful dinner that feels special but still works for a weeknight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and black pepper.
- Sear the chicken. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook, without moving it too much, until golden and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
- Start the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Build the cream sauce. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, whisking as you go. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Add the flavor. Stir in the Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
- Cook the pasta. Meanwhile, cook the rigatoni according to the package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water.
- Bring it all together. Return the chicken and any juices to the skillet. Add the drained rigatoni and toss until everything is coated in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Finish and serve. Cook for another minute or two until everything is heated through. Top with fresh basil and extra Parmesan and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian
