Marry Me Chicken Pasta (Instant Pot)
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My Marry Me Chicken Pasta is made with tender pieces of chicken, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, cooked pasta, and a creamy, flavorful sauce all cooked together in the Instant Pot.
If marriage material pasta recipes are your love language, try my French Onion Pasta, Spinach Artichoke Pasta, or this Pappardelle Bolognese.
The pasta is cooked right in the same pot along with the chicken and other ingredients so it absorbs the rich flavors of the sauce as it becomes perfectly al dente.
The sauce is creamy and luscious, made with a combination of chicken broth, cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese and a little lemon juice to brighten up the meal.
You will fall in love with its irresistible flavor and it’s so divine that it might just prompt a marriage proposal from those who taste it! It never fails to leave a lasting impression!
And even if you’re not looking for a marriage proposal, this meal is perfect for any occasion; from busy weeknights to hangouts with family and friends.
Garnished with fresh basil, chili flakes and extra Parmesan cheese, this Marry Me Chicken Pasta is filled with undeniable deliciousness and I just know you’re going to love it.
What is “Marry Me Chicken”?
Marry Me Chicken has been around for several years, but recently it has started to gain popularity again. It’s called “Marry Me Chicken” because it’s so delicious that it might inspire a marriage proposal! 😏 Most Marry Me Chicken recipes include: heavy cream or something to make the sauce nice and creamy, garlic, sun dried tomatoes, herbs such as oregano, thyme and basil, and Parmesan cheese.
Why this recipe works
- Made in just 30 minutes!
- Can be made in one pot on the stove too (stove top directions are in recipe notes in the recipe card)
- Makes great leftovers.
- Easy preparation and full of flavor.
Ingredients
For the ingredient measurements and entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.
- Chicken: boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, both work well.
- Seasonings and herbs: you’ll need Italian seasoning, paprika, chili flakes, salt, pepper and fresh basil. You can add more fresh herbs such as thyme or oregano, if desired.
- Sun dried tomatoes: go for the oil packed, julienne cut sun dried tomatoes. You’ll reserve some of that yummy oil to saute the chicken in.
- Shallot: I like using shallots in this recipe because the have a milder, sweeter flavor and it doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. If white onion is all you have, that works fine too!
- Pasta: I like using mezze rigatoni for this recipe, but a small penne or spiral rotini works too. I am not sure what the cook times would be in the Instant Pot of you chose another shape.
- Parmesan: freshly shredded from a block of parmesan for best results (not the pre-grated or shredded stuff).
- Spinach: fresh baby spinach gets tossed in at the end which adds some color and freshness.
- Cream Cheese: be sure the cream cheese is softened at room temperature so it can melt into the pasta evenly.
Step by Step Directions
Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions.
- Add chicken pieces to a bowl with the seasonings.
- Saute the shallots and garlic, then brown the chicken pieces.
- Add broth, water, sun dried tomatoes and pasta on top.
- Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes, then quick release the pressure.
- Add cheese, cream cheese, spinach and lemon juice. Stir to combine, allow to sit to thicken just a bit, garnish and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Using the right amount of liquid: I find for 1 lb. of pasta, 4 cups broth + 1 cup water is the perfect amount for this recipe. You want there to be enough liquid to cover the pasta. You’ll need to press the pasta down just a bit into the broth.
- It’s tempting, but don’t stir: avoid stirring the ingredients once they’re in the pot to prevent the pasta from sticking.
- Choose the right pasta: Not all pasta shapes are created equal when it comes to cooking in the Instant Pot. Short pasta shapes like rigatoni, penne, rotini, or farfalle tend to work best, as they cook evenly and are less likely to clump together.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the pasta once it’s cooked and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt, pepper, herbs, or spices before serving.
Storage
- Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat in a saucepan or skillet on the stove; add a splash of chicken broth, milk, or cream to the pasta to help loosen the sauce and prevent it from drying out. You can also pop it in the microwave, adding a splash of water/milk/broth to thin the sauce out.
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Marry Me Creamy Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (~ 1 ½ lb.), cut into small bite-size cubes
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- pinch of chili flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 1 shallot, finely minced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed with a garlic press
- 4 cups chicken broth + 1 cup water
- 7-8 oz. jar sun dried tomatoes, julienned (reserve 2-3 Tbsp. oil from the jar and discard the rest of the oil or use for another time.)
- 1 lb. (16 oz.) mezzi rigatoni
- 1 heaping cup parmesan cheese, finely shredded
- 5 oz. fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- fresh basil, chili flakes and parmesan for serving (optional)
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- *Note: one pot stovetop directions are in the recipe notes below.
- Toss the chicken cubes with the seasonings in a mixing bowl and set aside.2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (~ 1 ½ lb.), cut into small bite-size cubes, 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, 2 tsp. kosher salt, 1/4 tsp. paprika, pinch of chili flakes and freshly ground black pepper
- Turn the Instant Pot to saute function (on high) and add the butter. Once melted, add the shallots and saute for ~2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds-1 minute.2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, 1 shallot, finely minced, 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed with a garlic press
- Add the reserved oil from the sun dried tomatoes and then add in the seasoned chicken pieces.
- Cook chicken for ~5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Chicken won’t cook fully, just so each side browns a bit. Cancel the saute function.
- Pour in the broth and water and stir, scraping up anything that may have stuck to the bottom of the instant pot.4 cups chicken broth + 1 cup water
- Add the sun dried tomatoes and gently stir.7-8 oz. jar sun dried tomatoes, julienned (reserve 2-3 Tbsp. oil from the jar and discard the rest of the oil or use for another time.)
- Add the pasta on top, but do not stir. Press down the pasta so it’s mostly covered by the broth and water.1 lb. (16 oz.) mezzi rigatoni
- Place the lid on, making sure the valve is set to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Once the Instant Pot beeps, perform the quick release function and allow all steam to release, when the pin drops, carefully remove the lid.
- Add the Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, spinach and lemon juice, stir until everything is fully combined.1 heaping cup parmesan cheese, finely shredded, 5 oz. fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped, 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature, 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- Replace the lid for a few minutes so everything can thicken. It will look a little watery/soupy at first but once it sits for a bit, it will absorb and thicken.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Garnish with fresh basil, chili flakes and more cheese. Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.fresh basil, chili flakes and parmesan for serving (optional)
Video
Notes
- Toss the diced chicken pieces with the Italian seasoning, kosher salt, paprika, chili flakes and black pepper. Set aside.
- In a large pot over medium high heat, melt the butter. Add the shallots and saute for ~2 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for ~30 seconds more, until fragrant.
- Add the reserved sun dried tomato oil and chicken pieces and cook for ~5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is mostly cooked. It’s OK if not cooked completely yet.
- Pour in the chicken broth & water and bring to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook for ~15 minutes or until pasta is al dente. It’s OK if pasta isn’t completely submerged in the liquid, it will absorb and pasta will cook perfectly after ~15 minutes or so.
- Once pasta is cooked, stir in the sun dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, spinach, cream cheese and lemon juice. Stir until cheese is incorporated and everything is creamy.
- Taste and adjust any seasonings. Garnish and serve.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Super easy in the instant pot and so tasty….my husband said he’d definitely marry me again!!
Delicious and easy. Made in instant pot. Took about 1 hour.
Smashing hit with my family of six! This tastes like something I’d order at a fine Italian restaurant. Definitely rich and indulgent, but that didn’t stop me from having seconds (and maybe thirds). This one’s now in the rotation!
Delicious! Cooked perfectly and my husband couldn’t stop eating it! I served with penne noodles and mixed everything in the instant pot at the end for serving!
That sounds delish!! yayyy thank you soo much!
Delicious!
This is so creamy and delicious!
Thank you so much Krissy!
Absolutely love using my Instant Pot and this recipe certainly is for the keeps. I can’t wait to try it out!
Aw thank you so much. I hope you and your family loves this one. So easy and satisfying!
Love my instant pot too… a savior many a nights! This dish is a perfect weeknight dinner option that I would love to try!
Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy this one!! Instant Pots are the best!
I still don’t have an instant pot, but love seeing all the recipes. That pasta looks so creamy. Oh my!
You can make in your Crock Pot/Slow Cooker too! Thank you!
This sounds like such a delicious dish! I’ll definitely be trying it in my Instant Pot.
Thank you so much Bintu, I hope you love it!