Description
Creamy Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a luscious and comforting dish featuring tender chicken pieces sautéed with garlic and spinach, all enveloped in a rich, creamy Parmesan sauce. Paired with perfectly cooked pasta, this meal comes together in about 40 minutes and makes a satisfying dinner for four.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 3–4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs), chopped 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 quick and even cooking throughout the dish.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped chicken, season generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook the chicken until it becomes golden brown and is cooked through.
- Sauté Garlic and Spinach: When the chicken is almost cooked, add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Immediately stir in the fresh spinach, cooking just until it wilts to preserve its vibrant color and nutrients.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low and pour in the heavy cream. Stir gently as the cream thickens. Once thickened slightly, incorporate the freshly grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until it becomes creamy and smooth.
- Cook Pasta: Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling salted water following the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and reserve some of the pasta cooking water for adjusting sauce consistency if needed.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy chicken mixture. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Optionally, add lemon juice for a hint of brightness and stir well before serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and smoothest sauce texture.
- You can substitute spinach with kale or arugula if preferred.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but the sauce may be less rich.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently to avoid curdling the cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
