• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Little Black Skillet logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Portfolio
  • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Portfolio
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Published: Sep 30, 2024 · Modified: Jan 26, 2025 by AshleyFreeman ·

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you're looking for an easy, comforting skillet meal to make any night of the week then this marry me chicken pasta is it! A creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with spinach and Parmesan cheese coats tender chicken and al dente rigatoni pasta.

    It's the perfect one-pot meal the whole family will love, and the best news is that it's ready in a jiffy!

    Aqua handled skillet of Marry Me Chicken Pasta with a wooden spoon and a white linen with a wooden bowl of Parmesan cheese and glass of white wine off to the side.

    Pasta is the ultimate comfort food, and this simple one pot pasta recipe is exactly that. You may have heard of Marry Me Chicken--it's a recipe that went viral--I decided to combine those flavors with pasta for an easy all-in-one skillet dinner.

    Whether you're craving something cozy and creamy on a cold day or you need a quick dinner on busy weeknights, this creamy chicken pasta dish covers all the bases. And, since it's made in one skillet, you'll have little to cleanup afterwards. Now that's a win in my book!

    Looking for other delicious recipes to try after you've made this one? If you love "marry me" recipes, then check out this marry me chicken soup. You'll also want to be sure to make my browned butter butternut squash ravioli and my meaty sausage and beef lasagna.

    For a great gluten-free pasta dish, you'll love this gluten-free baked ziti. If it's comfort food you're craving, then I know you'll love my chicken pot pie with biscuits and my Newk's loaded potato soup recipes. Now, are you ready to make this easy chicken pasta recipe? Let's do it!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Tasty Tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • 🍽Get the recipe
    • Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    Before we get started, let's gather the ingredients we need for this recipe:

    Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken Pasta.
    • rigatoni
    • boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • olive oil
    • fresh garlic
    • dry white wine
    • sun-dried tomatoes
    • heavy cream
    • paprika
    • Italian seasoning
    • fresh baby spinach
    • Parmesan cheese
    • fresh basil

    (See recipe card for quantities.)

    Instructions

    Now that we've got our ingredients, it's time to get cooking!

    Browning the chicken breast slices in an aqua-handled skillet with a plate of already browned chicken off to the side.
    1. First, cook the pasta to al dente. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken in hot oil in a skillet until golden brown on all sides. Remove from the skillet.
    Deglazing the pan with white wine.
    1. Then, add the minced garlic to the drippings in the skillet and cook for 30 minutes until fragrant. Deglaze the bottom of the pan with the white wine.
    Stirring the baby spinach into the thickened cream sauce in an aqua-handled skillet.
    1. Next, add the sundried tomatoes, cream, paprika, and Italian seasoning and cook until thickened. Stir in the spinach and half of the cheese.
    Adding the cooked pasta and chicken to the Tuscan cream sauce in an aqua-handled skillet.
    1. Finally, add the cooked pasta and chicken and stir until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and garnish with basil before serving.

    Hint: Dried Italian seasoning is a blend of dried oregano, basil, oregano, thyme, and marjoram. If you don't have the seasoning blend, use a combination of the dried herbs you do have.

    Substitutions

    Need to make some ingredient changes? Here are some suggestions:

    • Pasta - Instead of rigatoni, use your favorite pasta shape. Penne pasta, bowtie, linguine, and spaghetti are all excellent options.
    • Chicken - Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are so versatile, which is why I use them in this recipe. You can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead or stir in shredded rotisserie chicken at the end if you prefer.
    • Heavy cream - Instead of heavy cream, you can use regular whipping cream. It may just take a little bit longer to thicken. For a lighter version you can also use half-and-half mixed with about 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.

    Variations

    Here are some more ways to change up this recipe:

    • Spicy - Add some crushed red pepper flakes along with the garlic when you sauté it to give this pasta dish a little pep.
    • Smoky - Use smoked paprika instead of regular sweet paprika to give this dish a smoky flavor.
    • Bacon - Everything's better with bacon, right? Cook a couple of strips of bacon until browned and crispy then brown the chicken in the bacon drippings instead of olive oil. Stir the cooked bacon in at the end when you add the cooked chicken and al dente pasta to the flavorful sauce.

    Equipment

    Here's the equipment you'll need for this recipe:

    • measuring spoons
    • liquid measuring cup
    • dry measuring cup
    • chef's knife
    • large pasta pot
    • colander
    • cheese grater
    • large deep skillet
    • wooden spoon

    Storage

    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

    Technically you can freeze leftovers, but it may not be as good if the leftovers were refrigerated.

    Tasty Tip

    Reserve some of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Add a little at a time to the pasta if the sauce becomes too thick.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why is it called marry me chicken?

    The viral Marry Me Chicken recipe is said to be so delicious that after one bite, it'll result in a marriage proposal.

    What is marry me chicken made of?

    This Tuscan-flavored skillet chicken dish is a combination of sundried tomatoes, chicken, and seasonings in a creamy sauce.

    How do you boil pasta to al dente?

    First, make sure you have plenty of water and that it's heavily salted. Once it's boiling, then add your pasta. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender but still has a little bit of a bite to it.

    Can you use sundried tomato pesto instead of sundried tomatoes?

    Yep! Sundried tomato pesto is a great option instead of julienned sundried tomatoes

    Do I used sundried tomatoes in oil or not packed in oil?

    You can use either. For this recipe, I use sundried tomatoes in oil and drain away the oil.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Chicken parm in a white cast iron skillet.
      Easy Weeknight Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Parmesan
    • White plate with Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter.
      Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter Sauce
    • Aqua skillet of chicken cobbler with Red Lobster Cheddar biscuit mix topping.
      Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Cheddar Biscuit Topping
    • Wedges of sun dried tomato quiche on white plates and in a white pie dish.
      Sun Dried Tomato Quiche with Spinach and Goat Cheese

    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with Marry Me Chicken Pasta:

    • White oval platter of Tomato and Burrata Salad with Balsamic and Fresh Basil Vinaigrette alongside a green checked cloth and a jar of extra vinaigrette.
      5-Minute Balsamic and Fresh Basil Vinaigrette
    • Three blue dot-rimmed white plates with Roasted Beet and Watermelon Salad on a basket-weave surface along with two blue glasses and small bowl of dressing with a wooden spoon.
      Roasted Beet and Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese
    • A white bowl of Creamy Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Fresh Tuna with blue chevron napkins, silverware, a glass of water, and a bowl of shredded Parmesan cheese.
      Creamy Kale Caesar Salad with Grilled Fresh Tuna
    • Air fryer baked brie in a bread bowl on a platter.
      Bread Bowl Baked Brie with Fig Preserves (Air Fryer recipe)

    🍽Get the recipe

    Aqua handled skillet of Marry Me Chicken Pasta with a wooden spoon and a white linen with a wooden bowl of Parmesan cheese and glass of white wine off to the side.

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

    Get ready for the ultimate comfort food dinner with this easy skillet marry me chicken pasta recipe. A creamy sundried tomato sauce with spinach and Parmesan cheese coats rigatoni and seared chicken. And, the best news is that it's made in a skillet, so there's minimal cleanup!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • liquid measuring cup
    • dry measuring cup
    • chef's knife
    • large pasta pot
    • colander
    • cheese grater
    • large deep skillet
    • wooden spoon

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
    • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
    • 1 cup drained oil-packed julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes
    • 2 cups heavy cream
    • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 4 cups fresh baby spinach
    • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
    • Fresh basil leaves

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Drain. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, in batches, until browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet, reserving the drippings.
    • Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the wine and scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon.
    • Add the sun-dried tomatoes, cream, paprika, and Italian seasoning to the skillet and cook until thickened. Stir in the spinach and ½ cup of the cheese. Simmer just until the spinach wilts.
    • Add the pasta and the browned chicken and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and garnish with the basil before serving.

    Recipe guidelines and test kitchen tips

    When developing and testing recipes, here are some key things that I do for more success in the kitchen:

    • Be sure to use dry measuring cups for things like flour, sugar, and mayonnaise and a liquid measuring cup for things like water, milk, and broth.
    • When measuring dry ingredients like flour and powdered sugar that can pack down, spoon the ingredient into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife as opposed to scooping the measuring cup into the ingredient.
    • I test and develop recipes using a standard electric oven and standard gas stovetop. Be aware that if you use an electric stovetop or convection oven, your bake times will be different.
    • When recipes call for kosher salt, I use Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

    Food safety

    Finally, don't forget to keep these food safety tips in mind when making this recipe.

    • Cook the chicken to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat.
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
    • Never leave cooking food unattended.
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Main Dishes

    • Metal surface topped with Roger Wood sausage Low Country Boil, two cans of beer, and metal containers of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce.
      Low Country Boil with Roger Wood Smoked Sausage
    • Metal Ovenex Starburst pan filled with Phillips Crab Cakes and a bowl of Cajun Tartar Sauce with lemon wedges and fresh herbs sprinkled on top.
      How to Make Crab Cakes with Cajun Tartar Sauce
    • Wooden bowl filled with creamy chicken macaroni salad with ceramic serving spoons, an orange checked cloth, two yellow glasses filled with ice water, and one pottery plate topped with a serving to the side.
      The Best Creamy Macaroni Pasta Salad with Chicken
    • Ham and Asparagus Quiche with Gruyere Cheese on a round wire rack with a yellow checked linen, wooden handled pie server, salt and pepper shakers, and a yellow plate off to the side.
      Easy Ham and Asparagus Quiche with Gruyere Cheese

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    • Flipboard
    • X
    • Print

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christine B. says

      April 28, 2025 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      It's an hour after dinner, the leftovers are put away, and I'm STILL raving about this dish. It's quick and absolutely delicious.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        April 29, 2025 at 10:32 am

        Christine!! Oh my goodness--thank you so much for your note. I'm so glad you loved it!!

        Reply
    2. Juyali says

      October 14, 2024 at 3:43 pm

      5 stars
      A yummy meal in under 30 minutes. Sign me up! 🙂 Seriously, so much flavor and so easy to make. I love these types of meals. Thanks for another great recipe!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        October 15, 2024 at 4:12 pm

        I'm with you--30 minute meals are a lifesaver!

        Reply
    3. Elizabeth says

      October 14, 2024 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      This was amazing! My family loved it and we can't wait to make it again.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        October 14, 2024 at 2:35 pm

        Hooray! That makes me so happy 🙂

        Reply
    4. carmy says

      October 12, 2024 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      This Marry Me Chicken Pasta is seriously delicious! The creamy sauce with the chicken are a perfect combo. This is totally becoming a go-to weeknight favorite!

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        October 13, 2024 at 7:52 am

        Woohoo! That's what I love to hear, Carmy!

        Reply
    5. Nicole Kendrick says

      October 11, 2024 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is one of the best marry me chicken recipes I've made. I love how rich and creamy it is. There's just the right amount of sauce, too, so everything is nicely coated.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        October 13, 2024 at 7:51 am

        Wow! Thanks so much Nicole. So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    6. Liz says

      October 11, 2024 at 11:20 am

      5 stars
      SO delicious!!! This was perfect for a weeknight dinner and my family devoured it.

      Reply
      • AshleyFreeman says

        October 13, 2024 at 7:50 am

        Hooray! That's what I love to hear!

        Reply
    5 from 6 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Ashley Strickland Freeman in a kitchen.

    Hi, I'm Ashley, "your best friend in the kitchen." I'm a food stylist, culinary producer, editor, travel junkie, and author of The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook from Charleston, SC. Thanks for stopping by Little Black Skillet!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Wooden tray topped with a light blue bowl of Cajun tartar sauce with hot sauce on top, a bottle of hot sauce on the side, as well as lemon wedges, parsley leaves, and a kitchen towel.
      Easy Homemade Cajun Tartar Sauce with Creole Mustard

    • Light wooden bowl filled with Zoe's Kitchen Copycat Pasta Salad with a wooden salad set in the bowl, a blue cloth, two blue glasses, a bowl of fresh basil, and salt and pepper shakers on the side.
      Tomato, Basil, and Feta Pasta Salad (Zoe's Copycat)

    • Green bowl filled with Elote Pasta Salad with a small wooden bowl of Cotija cheese and a small white bowl of cilantro on the side plus a green checked napkin and wooden serving spoon.
      Zesty Elote (Mexican Street Corn) Pasta Salad

    • Cast iron skillet filled with hot Mexican street corn dip with cream cheese on a wooden board surrounded by a blue checked napkin and small white enamel appetizer plates.
      Hot Mexican Street Corn Dip with Cream Cheese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Subscribe

    • Click Here to Keep in Touch

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Services

    Copyright © 2025 Little Black Skillet

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.