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Creamy Marry Me Chicken Recipe with Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Rigatoni

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A rich and velvety creamy chicken dish paired with sun-dried tomato rigatoni, perfect for cozy dinners and quick to prepare in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (pounded to even thickness)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, sliced
  • 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 12 ounces rigatoni
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (or mix of dried basil, oregano, and thyme)
  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and reserve ½ cup pasta water. Set pasta aside.
  3. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When butter melts and foams, add chicken breasts. Cook 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove chicken and keep warm.
  4. Lower heat to medium. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and chopped shallots. Stir frequently and cook until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Add sliced sun-dried tomatoes and stir for 1 minute.
  5. Pour in chicken broth, scraping browned bits from pan. Simmer 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Add Italian herbs and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer gently until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add reserved pasta water as needed to adjust sauce consistency.
  6. Return chicken breasts to the sauce. Spoon sauce over chicken and let meld for a couple of minutes on low heat. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  7. Add cooked rigatoni to the skillet and toss gently to coat pasta evenly with sauce. If pan is small, combine in pasta pot or serving bowl.
  8. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley. Serve immediately while warm and creamy.

Notes

Use room temperature chicken breasts for even cooking. Watch garlic closely to avoid burning. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce if needed. If sauce separates, whisk off heat and add a small knob of butter. For lighter or dairy-free versions, substitute heavy cream with almond milk and cornstarch or coconut cream and nutritional yeast. Gluten-free rigatoni can be used as a substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy chicken, marry me chicken, sun-dried tomato, rigatoni, easy dinner, comfort food, creamy pasta, chicken recipe

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