Budget-Friendly Marry Me Chicken (Print)

Creamy chicken pasta with tomatoes, herbs, and Parmesan—simple, comforting, and perfect for busy nights.

# Components:

→ Poultry & Protein

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.1 lbs), cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Sauce & Dairy

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
06 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
08 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Vegetables & Garnish

12 - 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped (optional)
13 - Fresh basil, chopped, for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta following package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and black pepper and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes to the skillet and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add drained diced tomatoes and chicken broth. Let simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to meld flavors.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to simmer gently until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Return chicken along with any juices to the skillet. Add chopped spinach if using, and cook until wilted, approximately 1 minute.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Adjust consistency by adding reserved pasta water a little at a time as needed.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped basil.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours cooking but comes together in under 40 minutes—restaurant-quality for your own kitchen.
  • The creamy tomato sauce is surprisingly elegant, turning humble pantry staples into something that feels completely indulgent.
  • It feeds four people for less than you'd spend on takeout, making weeknight cooking feel like a win.
02 -
  • Drain your canned tomatoes really well or the sauce becomes watery and loses that concentrated tomato richness you're going for.
  • Don't skip cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces—bigger chunks look unfinished and take longer to cook through evenly.
  • Add the pasta water slowly at the end because it's easier to thin out a thick sauce than to make a thin one creamy again.
03 -
  • The reserved pasta water is your secret weapon for getting the sauce to the perfect consistency—starch thickens and carries flavor better than anything else you could add.
  • Taste as you go and season in layers rather than all at once; it builds complexity and prevents that one-note oversalted disaster.
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