Budget-Friendly Marry Me Chicken (Printable Version)

Creamy chicken pasta made affordable with canned tomatoes and simple pantry ingredients for quick cooking.

# Ingredient List:

→ Poultry & Protein

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

→ Pasta

02 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Sauce & Dairy

03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
06 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
07 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
08 - 1/2 cup chicken broth
09 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
10 - 1/2 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 until al dente according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, season with salt and black pepper, and cook until golden and fully cooked, about 5–6 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic, dried Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until aromatic.
04 - Add drained diced tomatoes and chicken broth to the skillet. Simmer for 3–4 minutes to blend flavors.
05 - Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue simmering gently until the sauce thickens slightly, approximately 2–3 minutes.
06 - Return cooked chicken along with any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir in spinach if using, cooking until wilted, about 1 minute.
07 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water incrementally if the sauce requires thinning to desired consistency.
08 - Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately garnished with chopped fresh basil.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent but costs a fraction of restaurant versions, leaving your wallet and your taste buds equally happy.
  • From start to finish in 40 minutes, this becomes your go-to when you need comfort food without the fuss.
  • The creamy tomato sauce clings to every piece of pasta, creating that deeply satisfying bite that makes you forget you're eating budget-friendly ingredients.
02 -
  • Drain those canned tomatoes or your sauce becomes soup; I learned this the expensive way by wasting a whole batch.
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water—that starchy liquid is what saves a too-thick sauce and creates silky texture that cream alone cannot achieve.
  • Taste constantly as you cook, because salt and acid levels vary wildly depending on your ingredients and the water used in your broth.
03 -
  • Cook pasta one minute under al dente since it finishes cooking when tossed in the warm sauce, preventing mushy results.
  • Don't wash your skillet between cooking chicken and building the sauce; those browned bits left behind are pure flavor that dissolves into the tomato base.
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