Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe (Gluten Free)
A simple, creamy pasta dish made with tender chicken breast pieces, spinach, and penne pasta simmered in a sun-dried tomato sauce. This Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a one-pot, 30-minute meal that the whole family will devour. Perfect for busy weeknights or a date night!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What Makes This Recipe Great
If you’ve never heard of “Marry Me Chicken,” I am about to introduce you to a dish that tastes so good that you just might want to marry me. HA! I’m taken, but my Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta twist on a classic, popular dish is actually so easy and so good that you may not get a proposal, but you will go back for seconds!
The original dish is a chicken recipe made with a creamy tomato-based sauce with garlic, herbs, and cheese. I changed things up by using a sun-dried tomato cream sauce with spinach and chicken pieces served tossed with gluten-free penne pasta. It’s filling, delicious, and comes together in just 30 minutes from start to finish!
If you’re running out of easy weeknight dinner recipes, this pasta dish will be a hit. It requires only one pot, simple ingredients, and 30 minutes!
Ingredient Notes
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1-2” cubes. Substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Butter or ghee: Use vegan butter for dairy free
- Olive oil
- Minced garlic: I like using fresh garlic, but you can use garlic powder in a pinch.
- Chicken broth: You can use low-sodium, bone broth, or any version of chicken broth you prefer. Vegetable broth will work in a pinch if that’s all you have on hand.
- Gluten-free penne pasta: I like the Jovial Foods brand. If you’re not gluten-free, feel free to change up the gluten-free pasta for regular penne. Any type of short pasta will work.
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Red pepper flakes: This adds a little kick if you like that. Omit if preferred.
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Raw spinach
- Original Nutpods or Half & Half: You can also use heavy cream here if preferred.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Sub 1/4 cup nutritional yeast for dairy free.
- Fresh basil leaves
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Sprinkle the cubed chicken generously with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
Step 2
Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Step 3
Add in the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4
Pour in the chicken broth and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
Step 5
Add in the uncooked pasta, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Stir, then bring to a boil. Cook for 11-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is cooked (I like al dente pasta) and a lot of the broth has been absorbed.
Step 6
Add the sautéed chicken back into the pan along with the sundried tomatoes and spinach. Stir and simmer over medium heat for a minute until the spinach welts.
Step 7
Remove from heat and stir in the half & half (or Nutpods) and parmesan until you have a creamy sauce. Serve with fresh basil and more fresh grated parmesan on top of the pasta. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Keep in mind that you do not need to cook the pasta ahead of time. You’ll add the uncooked pasta in step 5, making this recipe an easy, one-pan dish.
- If you’re dairy-free, substitute your favorite non-dairy alternatives for the butter and cream. Garnish with vegan parmesan cheese or omit.
Storage Tips
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat over the stovetop with a little butter or a splash of water/chicken stock to break up the pasta and sauce. Serve warm with fresh basil and red pepper flakes.
Recipe FAQs
The original Marry Me Chicken recipe involves searing chicken breasts and simmering them in a sauce made with tomatoes/tomato paste, cream, garlic, and spices. It’s often served over cooked pasta or rice. My pasta version uses a few different ingredients but is very similar!
It’s actually pretty simple—the story goes that this dish is so good that it will result in a marriage proposal to the cook! Let’s just say it’s a very delicious chicken recipe.
Yes! Simply use vegan butter, original Nutpods instead of cream, and nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
More Delicious Recipes in 30 Minutes
Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
- 1 tsp salt, divided
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp butter, or ghee
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 4.5 cups chicken broth
- 12 oz gluten free penne pasta, I like Jovial Foods brand
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 7 oz sun-dried tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped
- 3 cups raw spinach
- ¾ cup Original Nutpods, or Half & Half
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- Sprinkle the cubed chicken generously with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
- Heat the butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-6 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add in the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir to deglaze the bottom of the pan, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add in the uncooked penne pasta, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Stir, then bring to a boil. Cook for 11-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is cooked (I like it al dente) and a lot of the broth has been absorbed.
- Add the chicken back into the pan along with the sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Stir over medium heat for a minute until the spinach welts.
- Remove from heat and stir in the half & half (or Nutpods) and parmesan until you have a creamy sauce. Serve topped with fresh basil and more fresh grated parmesan. Enjoy!
Notes
Expert Tips
- Keep in mind that you do not need to cook the pasta ahead of time. You’ll add the uncooked pasta in step 5, making this recipe an easy, one-pan dish.
- If you’re dairy-free, substitute your favorite non-dairy alternatives for the butter and cream. Garnish with vegan parmesan cheese or omit.
8 Comments on “Easy Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe (Gluten Free)”
This is my first time making one your recipes and it was SO good! It will be on rotation!
Thanks Delina!!
Loved it! Easy to make and delicious! Can’t get any better than that. It’s going on the regular rotation list. Thanks, Mary!
Thanks Christy! So glad you enjoyed it!
This recipe was amazing, I used regular pasta but followed the recipe otherwise. Run don’t walk to make this.
Thanks Colleen!
This is another delicious & easy Recipe! Thank you maryswholelife.com
Thanks Erin!