Budget-Friendly Marry Me Chicken (Print Version)

A creamy chicken pasta with tomatoes, Parmesan, and spinach, perfect for an easy, satisfying dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry & Protein

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 12 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Sauce & Dairy

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
06 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
07 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
08 - ½ cup chicken broth
09 - ½ cup heavy cream
10 - ½ 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 according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until golden and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes. Remove to a plate 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. Simmer for 3–4 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
06 - Return chicken and its juices to the skillet. Add spinach if using and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
07 - Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. If needed, stir in reserved pasta water gradually until desired sauce consistency is reached.
08 - Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes restaurant-worthy but costs way less than delivery, which means guilt-free seconds.
  • The whole thing comes together in 40 minutes, perfect for when you want comfort food on a school night.
  • There's something about creamy tomato sauce that makes even a simple weeknight feel a little bit special.
02 -
  • Drain those canned tomatoes properly, or you'll end up with a watery sauce that cream can't save—I learned this the messy way.
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water; that starchy liquid is magic for bringing a sauce together at the end and making it cling to the noodles.
03 -
  • Rotisserie chicken saves you 10 minutes and tastes great if you're short on time—just shred it and add it with the sauce.
  • Fresh grated Parmesan makes a real difference; the pre-shredded stuff has anti-caking agents that make it grainy instead of silky.
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