Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
For the Pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 12 ounces pasta, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Place the cubed chicken breasts in a medium bowl. Add smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chicken bouillon powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and avocado oil. Mix well by hand until the chicken is evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
In the same pan, reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen the flavor of the tomato paste.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour in the pasta water and heavy cream. Add red pepper flakes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the baby spinach to the sauce and stir until it has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the cooked pasta and the cooked chicken back into the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
For the Pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup pasta water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 12 ounces pasta, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- 1
Place the cubed chicken breasts in a medium bowl. Add smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chicken bouillon powder, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and avocado oil. Mix well by hand until the chicken is evenly coated.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 6-8 minutes, or until browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
In the same pan, reduce heat to medium and add the butter. Once melted, add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen the flavor of the tomato paste.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour in the pasta water and heavy cream. Add red pepper flakes, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the baby spinach to the sauce and stir until it has wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the cooked pasta and the cooked chicken back into the pan with the sauce. Toss everything together until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese if desired.