The Best Marry Me Chicken Pasta (Tuscan Chicken Pasta)

An epicurean adventure to: Italy

If there's ONE pasta dish to captivate your taste buds and charm your significant other, this is it!

It all began with Engagement Chicken, which gained legendary status when several women working at Glamour magazine claimed their beaus popped the question after being served this dish.

Then came 'Marry Me Chicken,' a recipe developed by the masterful Lindsay Funston in 2016, who at the time was a food editor at Delish. The dish showcases succulent chicken cuts bathed in a scrumptious sun-dried tomato cream sauce.

We're tipping our hat to this crowd-pleasing viral sensation with our Marry Me Chicken Pasta recipe.

While we can't promise a marriage proposal, brace yourself for a standing ovation of admiration and compliments at the very least! It's the crème de la crème of creamy pasta dishes and an enticing homage to creamy Tuscan chicken pasta.

Fast Facts - Italy

Location	Italy is located in Southern Europe, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.
Capital	Rome.
Language	Italian is the official language of Italy and it's spoken by the majority of the population. However, there are also many regional dialects and languages spoken throughout the country.
Population	Circa 60 million people.
Trivia	Flip a coin into the Trevi fountain and Rome calls you back - that's the tale. Tourists toss about €3,000 daily, totalling €1,000,000 annually, all destined for charity!

Key ingredient notes and substitutions

**Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients.

The Pasta

Our preferred choice, Pappardelle, not only looks good but also complements the dish with an added touch of elegance.

Nonetheless, feel free to opt for your favourite pasta - rigatoni, fettuccine or penne pasta all make excellent alternatives.

The chicken

Diced skinless, boneless chicken breasts work well, but feel free to substitute them with skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks.

Sun-dried tomatoes

The sun-dried tomatoes preserved in oil are ideal for this recipe. Make sure to drain them from the oil, though the residual oil clinging to the tomatoes imparts extra flavour and silkiness to the dish.

The herbs

Our recipe calls for both dried basil and dried oregano but experiment with your favourite combination of Italian seasoning, like using all basil or all oregano.

Alternatively, try Herbs de Provence or swap dried herbs for fresh herbs.

Additionally, for a bit of a kick, you can add red pepper flakes too.

The recipe does include a substantial amount of garlic, so consider your in-person meeting schedule for the next day!

Opt for either fresh garlic or save time with garlic paste.

Parmesan

We appreciate that Parmesan can sometimes come with a hefty price tag.

In that case, don't hesitate to explore alternatives such as Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano Reggiano or Piave, all of which offer a similar hard and robust cheese flavour.

Don't shy away from the sachets of pre-grated hard cheese either. They're cost-effective, get the job done and save you the time and effort of grating.

How to make Marry Me Chicken pasta: Step-by-step

1. In a large pot of water, cook the pasta following the package directions until al dente. Make sure to generously season the pasta water with salt. As a guide, you will need just under 1 tablespoon of salt for this amount of pasta.
   
   (You can start on the chicken and the sauce while the pasta cooks)

2. Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly in a colander.

3. Coat the diced chicken pieces with the salt, black pepper and smoked paprika.

4. Heat the oil in a large frying pan (large skillet) over medium-high heat.

5. Sauté the chicken pieces until they are golden brown on all sides and fully cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes.

6. Transfer the cooked chicken to a bowl, cover with foil to keep it warm and set it aside until needed.

7. In the same pan, melt the butter and add the chopped onions.
   
   (Yes, the pan will be coated in a vibrant orange oil from the paprika chicken. Don't pour it out, we need it for flavour and colour)

8. Cook the onions over medium-low heat until softened and lightly browned, approximately 4 minutes.

9. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

10. Next, pour in the chicken stock (chicken broth) and allow it to simmer for 1 minute. Scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze, incorporating any flavorful bits of onion and chicken that may be sticking.

11. Add the drained sundried tomatoes, dried basil, dried oregano and balsamic vinegar (if you are using the vinegar).

12. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, gently stirring, until the tomatoes start to soften. Gently break the tomatoes into smaller pieces with your spoon as you stir.

13. Pour in the heavy cream (double cream) and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the cream comes to a gentle simmer.

14. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and stir it through the sauce.

15. Add the cooked chicken from earlier back into the pan and combine it with the sauce. Cook for 1 minute.

16. Lastly, tip in the drained pasta.

17. Using two forks, gently lift and mix the pasta into the sauce until every strand is covered. Ensure an even spread of chicken and sun-dried tomato pieces throughout the dish.

18. Top with torn, fresh basil leaves, an additional sprinkle of Parmesan and a generous grind of black pepper.

Serving suggestions

• Pair with white wine like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

• Garlic bread.

• Italian salad like Panzanella Toscana.

• Crusty Italian bread or breadsticks for dipping into the creamy sauce.

• Create a small antipasto platter with olives, artichoke hearts and cured meats for a Mediterranean touch.

• Roasted, fried or grilled vegetables such as fried courgettes and roasted tenderstem broccoli.

Storage and reheating

Allow the pasta to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking. It will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To reheat the pasta, you can use either the microwave or stovetop. If the pasta seems a bit dry, consider adding a splash of water or cream to loosen it up.

When freezing, keep in mind that pasta may become slightly mushy upon thawing. Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

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