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One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta. Pan-seared Italian seasoned chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. Cooked together with pasta and spinach, then finished with freshly grated parmesan cheese and Italian basil. An incredibly simple one-pot dinner that happens to be delicious. Everyone will ask for seconds!
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I’m in a one-pot pasta phase as we head into spring. With last Sunday’s time change, my excitement for spring and springtime recipes is heightening! I want to add more herbs, more vegetables, and more color into every dish! I love how the changing of the seasons brings on new inspiration. Especially after winter!!
And the ease of using only one pot for a pasta dish gives me more time to enjoy that extra sunlight. This feels like a nice transitional style dinner that’s a mix of cozy and light as we head into warmer, longer spring days.
After returning from travel last week (which included dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant), I had a strong desire to create an Italian-style dinner for the family. I really wanted to make a pasta I knew we all would find so yummy!
Mary Me Chicken has quickly become one of our favorites. It’s simple to make yet has so much flavor. I also like to make my own homemade Italian seasoning, so I added that in too. We all really loved this!
There’s a reason why it is called Marry Me chicken. It’s definitely delicious enough to encourage a marriage proposal!
Let’s Dive Into The Details
Ingredients
- oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
- boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- Italian seasoning – I shared my mix below
- salted butter
- garlic
- dry shortcut pasta
- chili flakes
- whole milk
- cream cheese
- parmesan cheese
- fresh Italian basil
Special Tools
For this pasta, you need a large pot. A cutting board and a good knife. The basics and nothing else!
Steps
Step 1: cook the chicken
The first step should be to prepare the chicken. Using scissors, I like to cut the chicken directly over the pot I will be cooking with. Trust me, prepping the chicken this way will save so much time and create less mess. We all love less mess!
Add the chicken to a big pot with the reserved oil from the sun-dried tomato jar. Add the Italian seasoning and start cooking!
When the chicken is seared and cooked through, scoop it out of the pot. Set aside on a plate.
Step 2: the pasta and the sauce
Now add the butter to the pot, along with the garlic and remaining seasoning. I like to use 2 spoonfuls of seasoning on the chicken and then 2 spoonfuls of the sauce. You want this to be REALLY delicious.
Cook the garlic in the butter with the seasonings until fragrant. The kitchen will smell great!
Drop in the dry pasta and toss it with the butter, then add a couple cups of water. Cook the pasta until it is all dente.
Step 3: finish the pasta
To finish the pasta, add the milk. Make sure to use whole milk for the best results and the creamiest pasta. Toss in a couple ounces of creamy cheese and then lots of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. Add the chicken back in. Stir and cook the pasta over low heat until it is very creamy. Once the pasta is done, take it off the heat. Add all the basil. It will instantly smell so delicious!
As with most pasta recipes, you’ll want to serve this immediately while it’s at its most delicious stage!
The Italian Seasoning
I love to use a mix of dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and dried sage.
Then, I add some smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili flakes for spice.
If I have any mix left over, I store it in a glass jar.
And that’s it, this is very simple dish. And thanks to the Italian seasonings being packed with flavor, this pasta has a minimal ingredient list!
You and your family will enjoy!
Looking for other meals? Here are a few ideas:
Crockpot Herb Butter Chicken and Wild Rice
Creamy White Bean Noodle Soup with Rosemary Bacon.
Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo
Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch
Slow Cooker Saucy Sunday Bolognese Pasta
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bolognese
One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice
One Pan Lemon Pepper Yogurt Chicken and Rice
Lastly, if you make this One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cubed
- salt and black pepper
- 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3/4 -1 pound short cut pasta
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2 cups chopped baby spinach
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot set over medium-high heat, cook the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar with the chicken and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Scoop the chicken out of the pot and set aside.2. Add the butter, garlic, and 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the pasta and 2 cups of water. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Stir in the milk, cream cheese, and parmesan. Mix until creamy.3. Slide the chicken into the pasta, add the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan, and gently mix. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil.4. Serve the pasta immediately with fresh parmesan and basil. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
I made this and it was 5☆’s all the way. My whole family enjoyed it, said it was better than olive garden! I did substitute the Italian season, with a garlic herb mix. I also added halves of tomatoes along with the sun-dried tomatoes and because I forgot the whole milk I used 2% mixed with butter. All was well I look forward to forever making this dish!!
Hey Jayme,
Fantastic! Love to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks so much for making it!
Have a wonderful week!
I’ve made this many times – it has become part of our weekly recipe rotation. The one pot nature is fantastic and makes for easy clean up. You don’t have to be too precise with the measurements, and it will always turn out deliciously.
Love to hear this, Andrea! Thanks for making this dish so often and sharing your feedback! So glad it’s always a hit.
Enjoy your Monday!
This seemed like it would be overflowing with flavor but, sadly, it was lackluster. I kept adding salt and pepper (which are in the ingredient list but nowhere in the instructions) and still couldn’t get it to come alive.
Hi Kami,
I appreciate you trying this dish and sharing your feedback, very sorry to hear it did not turn out for you!
I’m so confused haha… The narrative blog part has multiple different ingredients listed that are not in the ingredients list (paprika, onion and garlic powder). The amount of liquid recommended was not nearly enough to cook the pasta either – I had to double it to 4 cups of liquid for 1lb of campanelle.
Marry me recipes are some of my favorite go-to recipes and I found this one to just really be lacking that familiar flavor. Every other recipe had me saute the chicken with the sun-dried tomatoes and I think that is probably what this is lacking. I would definitely try this again because I love the one pot concept but we’ll be adjusting some of the flavors.
Hi Tieghan! I am a newcomer to your website as of Christmas 2025 and I am HOOKED! I purchased your Comfort and Cozy recipe book and I am OBSESSED! I’m on your website everyday cooking and baking and looking for inspiration. We are a family of two. Retired hubby and wife although we are fierce entertainers. We are expecting 26 people for Easter brunch and excited about using many of your Easter recipes as well as beverages. Thank you for your talent and dedication to your craft. One of your biggest fans~Margo from Michigan
Aww, thank you so much for your kind message, Margo! I appreciate you being here and following along!
Have a wonderful Easter! Let me know what you end up making:)
Sounds amazing and I am looking forward to making this for company. Is it a lot for 6 or should I double it? Also, what wine pares well with it?
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks so much! If you are doing a side salad and bread, I don’t think you need to double the recipe.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
So delish!
Thanks so much, Ashley! Love to hear this dish was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it!
Just made this tonight for dinner and it came out delicious. My husband loved it and said. “You have to make this again!” Thank you Tiegan for another great recipe
Hey Karen,
Thrilled to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it and your comment!
Have a nice Sunday!
This recipe was just okay and I found it was screaming for more flavour
Hi Janice,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, very sorry to hear you didn’t love it!
This looks amazing! I am running to the store to buy all ingredients now. WHERE do you get the cute pasta you used in this dish?
Thanks so much, Lisa!! Here is the link for the pasta that I used!
I hope you love this recipe!
Great dish. I can’t handle so much milk so I used a can of coconut cream. I used bow tie pasta which took way longer to reach al dented so I just used chicken stock when it boiled down to keep flavor.
Thank you!
Thanks so much, Marilyn! Love to hear this dish was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it!
Can this be frozen?
Hey Donna,
Sure, that would work for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions!
I first have to say that I have tried so many of your recipes and they have all been amazing! This recipe does not disappoint either! Huge hit with the family. I will be making this again.
Hey Holly,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your thoughts—so happy it worked for you!
Have the best weekend!
I made this tonight substituting the whole milk for a non-dairy heavy “cream.” It turned out super delicious. And it was so quick and easy. I loved that I could take some of the pasta out before adding stuff for my picky kiddo. This will go into my regular dinner rotation.
Hey Lindsay,
Fantastic! Thanks for trying this recipe, I’m so glad to hear you liked it!
Hi!! I am looking forward to making this dinner tonight. I don’t have whole milk at home, but I do have 2% and heavy cream. What would your suggestion be for substituting the whole milk?
Hey Lindsay,
I would go ahead and use the heavy cream, that will work nicely for you:) I hope you love this recipe!
So easy, love that uses one pot not a lot of dishes.healthy and delish
Hey Farwah,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad it was a hit. Have the best week!
I have made this recipe a dozen times already and it is a winner! I always add a half-pound of sautéed mushrooms, and it ends up being the most perfect cozy, filling meal to feed a crowd. One pot, packed with protein and veggies, and absolutely delicious. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Hi Melissa,
Happy Monday! I’m thrilled to hear this recipe always turns out well for you!
Thanks for making it so often and your comment:)
How would I adjust this for the crock pot please?
Hi Danie,
So sorry, I have not tested this recipe in the crockpot. Please let me know if I can help in any other way!