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This creamy “marry me” chicken pasta is full of hearty chicken, tomatoes, and baby spinach. Serve it with plenty of shredded parmesan cheese on top.
If you’re looking for an easy pasta dinner idea that will fill bellies and satisfy taste buds, look no further than this “marry me” chicken pasta. Also called Tuscan chicken pasta, it’s made with tender fettuccine noodles tossed in a creamy tomato sauce with bite sized pieces of chicken.
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Family loved it!
Why You’ll Love this Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Easy. You won’t need any complicated ingredients or fancy cooking techniques to make this recipe.
- Flavorful. The chicken and sauce are seasoned separately, so every bite of this dish has the perfect amount of flavor.
- Hearty and satisfying. Thanks to the protein from the chicken and a generous amount of veggies, this dinner idea will leave even the hungriest eaters feeling satisfied.
- Flexible. You can use different kinds of pasta and add your favorite veggies to this dish. I’ve added some notes on how to do that in the FAQs section below. This meal also goes with many sides and salads.
Watch How to Make It
Want to see how to make this dinner idea step-by-step? Check out my video:
Why is it Called “Marry Me” Pasta?
The name “Marry Me” came about because the recipe is so good, legend says it inspires marriage proposals. 😉
“Marry me” chicken pasta is also called Tuscan chicken pasta. It’s a riff on Tuscan chicken, which originated in the Tuscany region of Italy. The original recipe pairs a creamy sauce with chicken breasts, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Ingredient Substitutions
Here is a quick look at some of the ingredients with substitutions. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for a printable ingredient list.
- Chicken breasts – Boneless and skinless. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Vegetable broth – Chicken broth also works.
- Fettuccine – You can use other kinds of pasta too. I like fettuccine because I like to twirl the pasta around my fork, and if you’re a fan of that too you can use any other kind of long noodle. Spaghetti, linguine and bucatini all work. If you prefer shorter noodles, then I recommend rigatoni, penne, ziti, campanelle, or casarecce pasta
- Sun-dried tomatoes – Make sure you use the ones that are stored in oil and that come in jars.
- Half and half – You can also use heavy cream, whole milk, or low-fat milk.
- Fresh baby spinach – Full-sized spinach also works, just chop it into smaller pieces.
- Parmesan cheese – Grated or shredded, both work.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Are you ready to make Tuscan chicken pasta? Here’s how to do it step-by-step:
Cook the Chicken
- Mix your spices. In a small bowl combine the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Season the chicken. Add the cubed chicken to a large bowl and toss with olive oil. Add the seasoning and mix to combine.
- Sear the chicken. Warm the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on all sides until browned.
- Cook. Add the broth, cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F and the liquid has reduced.
- Set aside. Spoon into a large bowl and set aside while you make the pasta noodles.
Make the Pasta
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the fettuccine according to the package instructions.
- Cook onions, tomatoes and garlic. Melt the butter and cook the onion and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook, s until the onions are softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
- Make the sauce. Add the tomato paste, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic power, salt and pepper. Mix into the other ingredients, then add the half and half. Stir well.
- Add the baby spinach and the cherry tomatoes. Mix in with a spoon, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach has wilted. This will take about 5-8 minutes.
- Stir in 1 cup of the parmesan cheese. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the cheese has melted.
- Add the cooked pasta. With tongs, toss the pasta with the sauce to evenly coat the noodles.
- Add the cooked chicken. Incorporate into the pasta by continuing to toss the pasta with the sauce.
- Serve. Once the chicken has warmed back up, serve. Use the remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top of the pasta. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top too, if desired.
Variation Ideas & FAQs
Can I use a different protein?
Sure, but then it won’t be “chicken” pasta. 🙂 You could also use cubed steak or tofu. If you use tofu, be sure to press it first and then take the time to brown it well before it’s added to the sauce.
Can I add mushrooms?
Yes, you can add 8oz baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced, to this recipe. Cook them in the same step as the baby spinach and cherry tomatoes.
Can I add more veggies?
Yes! I have added asparagus spears chopped into bite sizes pieces, which is totally delicious. I’ve also added zucchini and summer squash rounds. Add these veggies in the same step where the spinach and cherry tomatoes are cooked.
Can I sub kale for the spinach?
Yes, just make sure you chop the kale into smaller pieces and don’t use the stems, just the leafy pieces.
Can I make this pasta even creamier?
Yes, you can use heavy cream in place of the half & half to make the sauce even more creamy.
Serving Suggestions
- Salad. This pasta goes well with a simple salad. Just mix up a spring green mix, add some sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, then your favorite salad dressing. A spring mix salad with apples and walnuts is another fantastic option.
- Veggies. Try serving roasted asparagus or broccoli on the side. Both are easy to make!
- Bread. I love serving bready sides with this recipe since you can use it to wipe up your plate and get every last bite of sauce. Buttermilk biscuits and sweet potato buttermilk biscuits are probably my favorite options.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Store in the fridge: Let extras cool to room temperature, then transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat: Spoon your desired amount of pasta into a small pot and warm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. You can add a splash of broth or milk to revive the creaminess of this dish.
More Pasta Dinner Ideas
- Five Cheese Ziti al Forno
- Goat Cheese Pasta
- Classic Beef Lasagna
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- Gigi Hadid Pasta
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
This easy chicken pasta recipe is full of hearty chicken, tomatoes, and baby spinach. Serve it with plenty of shredded parmesan cheese on top.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided use
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup vegetable broth
Pasta
- 12 ounces fettucini pasta noodles, cooked al dente according to package instructions
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup yellow onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic , minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups half and half
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese, grated or shredded (both work)
- fresh parsley, chopped finely, for garnish
Instructions
Cook the Chicken
- Mix your spices. In a small bowl combine the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Season the chicken. Add the cubed chicken to a large bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the seasoning mixture and mix with a spoon to combine.
- Sear the chicken. Warm the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on all sides until browned, about 3 minutes.
- Cook. Add the vegetable broth, cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F and the liquid has reduced, about 10 minutes.
- Set aside. Spoon into a large bowl and set aside while you make the pasta noodles.
Make the Pasta
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the fettucine according to the package instructions.
- Cook onions and garlic. In the same skillet that you used to cook the chicken, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the yellow onion and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and somewhat translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
- Make the sauce. Add the tomato paste, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic power, salt and pepper. Mix into the other ingredients, then add the half and half. Stir well to combine.
- Add the baby spinach and the cherry tomatoes. Mix in with a spoon, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring frequently, until the spinach has wilted. This will take about 5-8 minutes.
- Stir in 1 cup of the parmesan cheese. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the cheese has melted, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta. With tongs, toss the pasta with the sauce to evenly coat the noodles.
- Add the cooked chicken. Incorporate into the pasta by continuing to toss the pasta with the sauce.
- Serve. Once the chicken has warmed back up, serve. Use the remaining 1/2 cup parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top of the pasta. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top too, if desired.
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Nutrition
Calories: 573kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 1485mg | Potassium: 657mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1809IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 537mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as a courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Did you make this recipe?💖 I love hearing how my recipes came out for others! If you tried this recipe, please share a comment. 💖
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I literally just finished making it for my husband and I and had to share! I followed the recipe exactly as far as the ingredients go, however, I did eye ball some of the amounts to suit our taste (added more tomatoes, spinach, etc). There is nothing about this recipe I would change! Took a little bit longer then expected to make but damn this is a keeper for sure! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe and happy Valentines Day!
What a wonderful comment to see first thing in the morning! So glad you enjoyed this pasta recipe and hope you had a great Valentine’s Day!
Family loved it!
Awesome! Thank you for letting me know. 🙂