This Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe is perfect for cooking something special for your loved ones but saving time in the kitchen. Imagine succulent chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy Parmesan sauce that'll have you falling in love with every forkful. It won't guarantee a ring on your finger, but it may secure a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
Place each chicken breast on a chopping board and pat them dry with kitchen paper.2 chicken breasts
Cover the chicken breast with parchment paper to protect the meat, and use the smooth side of a meat mallet (or the base of a heavy pan) to bash the chicken to an even thickness.
Repeat with the second chicken breast.
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Add the salt and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the packet instructions.1 tablespoon salt12 oz/ 340g pasta
Once cooked, reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking liquid and drain the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy-based skillet over medium-high heat.2 tablespoon olive oil
Season the chicken with salt and pepper, add it to the pan, cook for 3 minutes on each side, then transfer to a plate and keep covered.½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon black pepper
Reduce the heat to low, add the extra oil to the same skillet, add the minced garlic, and cook for 30 seconds.1 tbsp olive oil5 cloves garlic
Pour in the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the cream, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer.1 cup/ 240ml chicken broth1 cup/ 240ml heavy cream½ cup/ 60g sundried tomatoes1 tsp dried oregano1 tsp dried thyme½ tsp red pepper flakes½ tsp black pepper
Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle over the parmesan. Stir until the parmesan has melted.¾ cup/ 75g parmesan
Place the pan back on the heat and let the sauce simmer for 1 ½ minutes until it thickens slightly.
Add the drained pasta to the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved cooking water.
Stir the pasta gently into the sauce and cook everything for a minute, tossing gently. Add more pasta cooking water if the sauce gets too thick.
Add most of the fresh basil.¼ cup fresh basil leaves
Slice the chicken breasts and place on top of the pasta with the remaining basil and some extra parmesan to taste.