Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a rich and creamy one-pot meal featuring tender chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach cooked together with pasta in a flavorful garlic and paprika sauce. This dish combines convenience with indulgence, making it perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 650 g Boneless & skinless chicken breast (about 4 breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp Olive oil (or oil from sun dried tomatoes jar for extra flavor)
- 3 Garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
- 170 g Sun dried tomatoes, drained and very finely chopped
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 2 tsp Paprika
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 250 g Dried pasta (any short pasta like penne or fusilli works well)
- 650 ml Chicken stock
- 150 ml Double cream (heavy cream)
- 50 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- 120 g Fresh spinach
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large deep frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until all sides begin to brown and color evenly.
- Build the flavor base: Reduce heat to low. Add crushed garlic, finely chopped sun dried tomatoes, oregano, and paprika to the chicken. Stir continuously for 3 to 5 minutes until the garlic softens and the mixture becomes fragrant.
- Add pasta and stock: Pour in the dried pasta and chicken stock. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook on medium-low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally while cooking, checking to ensure pasta absorbs most of the liquid and reaches desired tenderness.
- Finish with spinach and cream: Lower the heat to the lowest setting. Add fresh spinach and double cream, stirring thoroughly. Cook for another 1 to 3 minutes until the spinach wilts and the cream is warmed through. Verify the chicken is fully cooked and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Add cheese and serve: Turn off the heat and fold in grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well so the cheese melts into the sauce, creating a rich and creamy consistency. Serve hot immediately.
Notes
- Oil: Use olive oil or oil from the sun dried tomatoes jar to add extra flavor to the dish.
- Cooking time: One-pot pasta cooking time varies depending on pasta type and heat. If pasta is still firm after the recommended time, cook a few minutes longer, adding boiling water as necessary to avoid drying out.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Chop very finely if texture is a concern; they will melt into the sauce and enhance the flavor without being chunky.
- Double cream: Known as heavy cream in the US; it adds that signature mild richness to the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
