Description
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a luscious and comforting dish featuring tender chicken pieces sautéed with garlic and spinach, then simmered in a rich Parmesan and heavy cream sauce. Tossed with al dente pasta, this recipe offers a deliciously creamy meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta (fettuccine or penne)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and quick sautéing.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Sauté Garlic and Spinach: When the chicken is nearly done, add the minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Then stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted, roughly 1-2 minutes.
- Create Cream Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir gently as it heats and thickens, then add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the sauce becomes creamy and smooth.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving a little pasta water in case it is needed to thin the sauce later.
- Combine and Finish: Add the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the creamy chicken mixture. Stir gently to coat the pasta well with the sauce. Optionally, add lemon juice for brightness, and toss again.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or use a low-fat cream alternative.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if it becomes too thick.
- Freshly grated Parmesan is key for best flavor and creamy texture.
- You can add crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle heat twist.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the sauce at its creamiest.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
