Creamy Tuscan Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Tender golden chicken nestled in a rich Parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, shallots, fresh basil, and silky fettuccine. This cozy one-pan pasta dinner feels special enough for guests but is simple enough for a weeknight meal.
Prep time
15 min
Cook time
35 min
Serves
Ingredients
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For the Chicken
- 4boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tspsalt
- ½ tspblack pepper
- 1 tbspItalian seasoning
- 2 tbspolive oil
For the Pasta
- 12 oz (340 g)fettuccine
For the Sauce
- 1 largeshallot, finely diced
- 4 clovesgarlic, minced
- ½ cupdry white wine
- 1½ cupschicken broth
- 1 cupheavy cream
- 1 tspDijon mustard
- ½ tbspItalian seasoning
- ⅓ cupchopped sun-dried tomatoes
- ¾ cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ tspred pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cupfresh basil, chopped
For Garnish
- Additional Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil ribbons
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tspsalt
- ½ tspblack pepper
- 1 tbspItalian seasoning
- 2 tbspolive oil
For the Pasta
- 12 oz (340 g)fettuccine
For the Sauce
- 1 largeshallot, finely diced
- 4 clovesgarlic, minced
- ½ cupdry white wine
- 1½ cupschicken broth
- 1 cupheavy cream
- 1 tspDijon mustard
- ½ tbspItalian seasoning
- ⅓ cupchopped sun-dried tomatoes
- ¾ cupfreshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ tspred pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cupfresh basil, chopped
For Garnish
- Additional Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil ribbons
- Fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- 2
Cook the fettuccine according to package directions until al dente.
- 3
Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain and set aside.
Season and Sear the Chicken
- 1
Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- 2
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 3
Cook the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until deeply golden. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
- 4
Transfer to a plate, cover with foil and set aside.
Build the Sauce
- 1
Reduce the heat to medium.
- 2
Add the shallot and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
- 3
Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- 4
Pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.
- 5
Stir in the chicken broth, cream, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Add the Flavour
- 1
Add the sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
- 2
Stir until smooth and creamy.
- 3
Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Finish the Chicken
- 1
Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet.
- 2
Spoon sauce over the chicken.
- 3
Cover loosely and simmer for 10–12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
Bring It All Together
- 1
Remove the chicken and set it aside briefly.
- 2
Add the cooked fettuccine directly to the sauce and toss gently until coated.
- 3
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water until silky.
- 4
Stir in the fresh basil.
- 5
Slice the chicken and arrange it over the pasta.
- 6
Spoon extra sauce over the top.
Serve
- 1
Finish with freshly grated Parmesan, additional basil, and freshly cracked black pepper.
- 2
Serve immediately with warm, crusty bread and a simple green salad.
Melissa's Notes
Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
If your chicken breasts are very large, slice them in half horizontally before cooking.
The sauce should lightly coat the pasta, not become overly thick. A drizzle of the oil from the sun-dried tomato jar adds wonderful flavour.
This pasta is rich, creamy, and full of flavour. The fresh basil brightens the sauce while the sun-dried tomatoes add little bursts of sweetness throughout. It's the kind of comforting dinner that makes everyone ask for seconds.
Nutrition Information
Per serving — based on 5 servings
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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