Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Marry Me chicken pasta is the creamy, sun-dried tomato, garlic-heavy skillet dinner that took over TikTok — and earned every bit of the hype. Chicken thighs are seared until golden, then simmered in a sauce of heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan, and Italian seasoning. Toss it with pasta and you have a 30-minute dinner that tastes like it came from a restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Why this recipe broke the internet:

• Restaurant-quality in 30 minutes — the sauce is rich, creamy, and deeply flavored.
• One-skillet recipe — minimal cleanup.
• Sun-dried tomato depth — they add umami that fresh tomatoes can’t match.
• Feeds a crowd — doubles easily for 6-8 people.

Ingredients

The ingredient list is short but every item matters:

• 1½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 8 oz penne or rigatoni
• 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), sliced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and black pepper
• Fresh basil for garnish

Chicken thighs over breasts

Thighs stay juicy and tender in the sauce. Breasts dry out faster. If using breasts, reduce cook time by 2 minutes and pound to even thickness.

Equipment You’ll Need

• 12-inch stainless steel or cast iron skillet
• Medium saucepan for pasta
• Instant-read thermometer
• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula

How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta

Step 1 — Sear the chicken (8 minutes)

Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken smooth-side down. Don’t move for 5 minutes. Flip and cook 3 more minutes. Remove to a plate.

Step 2 — Start the sauce (3 minutes)

In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 3 — Build cream sauce (4 minutes)

Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir, scraping up the browned bits. Add red pepper flakes. Simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.

Step 4 — Cook pasta (10 minutes)

Cook penne in salted boiling water per package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.

Step 5 — Combine (3 minutes)

Slice chicken into strips. Add back to skillet with sauce. Stir in parmesan until melted. Add drained pasta and toss. If too thick, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time.

Step 6 — Serve

Plate immediately. Top with extra parmesan, fresh basil, and black pepper.

Pro Tips for Best Results

Don’t skip the pasta water. The starchy water helps the sauce cling to the noodles.

Fresh parmesan only. Pre-grated has anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy.

Low and slow on the garlic. Burnt garlic is bitter and ruins the sauce.

Variations & Substitutions

Spicy marry me chicken

Double the red pepper flakes and add a diced jalapeño with the garlic.

Vegetarian version

Swap chicken for thick-sliced portobello mushrooms. Use vegetable broth.

Shrimp marry me

Use 1 lb large shrimp instead of chicken. Sear 1 minute per side. Cook time drops to 20 minutes.

Storage, Make-Ahead & Reheating

Refrigerator: Up to 3 days. Sauce thickens in fridge — add cream when reheating.

Freezer: Freeze sauce and chicken (without pasta) for up to 2 months.

What to Serve With Marry Me Chicken Pasta

This pasta is rich enough to be the main event. Serve with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon and olive oil. Crusty bread for soaking up the sauce is mandatory.

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Nutrition Information

Per serving (¼ of recipe): approximately 580 calories, 38 g protein, 42 g carbohydrates, 30 g fat, 2 g fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream?

You can, but the sauce won’t be as rich. Add 1 tbsp butter to compensate.

Why is my sauce grainy?

Pre-grated parmesan or adding it to a boiling sauce. Use freshly grated and add off heat.

What pasta shape works best?

Penne and rigatoni are ideal — the tubes catch the sauce. Fusilli also works.

Marry Me chicken pasta lives up to the name. It’s the recipe people make for date night, for friends, for Tuesday. Save this one. You’ll make it again.