Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 ounces penne pasta
• 1 ½ pounds boneless (skinless chicken breasts (about 4))
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves (plus more for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, about 1–2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.

2. 2

   Pat the chicken dry and season with Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4–5 minutes per side until golden. Transfer to a cutting board (it doesn't need to be cooked through yet). Cut into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

3. 3

   In the same skillet, add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.

4. 4

   Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over the top. Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, or until the chicken cooks through.

5. 5

   Add the cooked pasta directly into the sauce with chopped fresh basil. Toss well, adding splashes of reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce until creamy and glossy.

6. 6

   Spoon into bowls, top with extra Parmesan and basil, and serve immediately.