Marry Me Chicken and Tortellini
This easy and delicious Marry Me Chicken and Tortellini recipe is full of tender chicken, creamy tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese tortellini pasta. Perfect for family dinner or special occasions!
Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Recipe
The star of this dish is the tomato cream sauce that will turn any meal into a fancy occasion! Creamy, flavorful, and full of bits of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh parmesan cheese.
It is the perfect addition to the juicy chicken and tender pasta. Think a candlelight romantic dinner or marriage proposal like the name suggests!
I also make Marry Me Chicken without the pasta, as a Marry Me Chicken Soup, or in a crockpot too.
This simple and delicious chicken dinner will make your mouth water. With minimal ingredients and a few easy steps, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Love recipes with tortellini? Check out my Tuscan Tortellini Soup, Crockpot Chicken Tortellini Soup, and Tortellini Pasta Salad.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken – I prefer boneless chicken breasts, chicken cutlets, or substitute boneless chicken thighs.
Heavy cream – Substitute with coconut cream or cashew cream for a dairy-free option.
Pasta – Switch out the cheese tortellini for cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
Broth – Use vegetable broth or water with chicken bouillon cubes instead of chicken broth.
Sun-dried tomatoes – Try with canned diced tomatoes, roasted red peppers, or fresh cherry tomatoes.
Parmesan cheese – Substitute Asiago or Romano cheese for richer flavor.
Spices – Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
Pantry staples – olive oil, fresh minced garlic, salt, black pepper.
Garnishes – Fresh chopped parsley or basil. More cheese is always nice too:)
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Can I use frozen tortellini instead of fresh?
Yes, you can use frozen tortellini in this recipe. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time according to the package directions.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Just make sure to adjust the cooking time if needed. Large chicken breasts can take slightly longer.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken with Tortellini
First: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
Second: Heat olive oil in large, oven safe skillet over medium high heat. Brown chicken breasts for 4-5 minutes on each side.
Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and reduce the temperature to medium.
Third: Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Stir in chicken broth and gently scrape the bottom of the skillet to remove the delicious brown bits. Stir in the heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
Bring to a simmer. Place the chicken back and any juices back in skillet.
Fourth: Spoon sauce over the chicken. Place skillet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165F.
While the chicken is baking, cook and drain the tortellini.
Fifth: Remove the chicken breasts and slice the chicken or dice into bite-sized pieces. Stir the tortellini and sliced chicken into the skillet. Toss to combine, garnish, and serve!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this Marry Me Chicken and Tortellini with a crisp salad and some garlic bread or breadsticks.
If you prefer a vegetable with it, some roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus will go well with it.
How long does it last?
Leftovers will last for 3-4 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes, you can easily make this recipe ahead of time. Just make the dish as directed but keep the tortellini separate. When ready to serve, reheat both.
Then toss the chicken and creamy sauce over the cheese pasta.
Can I freeze it?
I don’t recommend freezing the tortellini after it has been cooked but you can always make the chicken and sauce and freeze. When ready to serve it, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat in a sauce pan on the stove until heated through. Cook the tortellini while reheating the chicken and toss together when ready.
What’s the best way to reheat it?
The best way to reheat any leftovers is on the stovetop. Add them to a large pan and pour in a splash of water or chicken broth.
Stir occasionally to combine the broth and bring the sauce back to it’s creamy consistency. Heat over medium heat until heated all the way through and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165F.
Reheating in the microwave is an option, but can dry out on top if not careful. Cover the microwave safe dish with a damp paper towel or lid to keep the moisture in.
Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the dish is heated through.
Tips for No Leftovers
- Use a large, oven-safe skillet to make the dish, as it will allow you to easily transfer it from stovetop to oven.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides before cooking to enhance the flavor.
- Brown the chicken on both sides until it is golden brown to keep the chicken moist.
- Watch carefully when cooking the garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes as they can burn quickly and become bitter.
- Scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan when adding the chicken broth for lots of added flavor in the sauce.
- Don’t over cook the tortellini initially as it will continue to cook in the sauce and can become mushy.
- Garnish with fresh basil or chopped parsley just before serving, for a burst of flavor and freshness to the dish.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
This creamy marry me chicken recipe is a delicious and easy chicken dinner that will impress your family and friends. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or any day of the week!
Marry Me Chicken and Tortellini
Ingredients
- 12 ounces cheese tortellini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ⅔ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped or sliced thin
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- In a large, oven safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts and cook for roughly 5 minutes on one side to brown it. Flip and brown the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a plate.
- Reduce the temperature to medium.
- Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan with the chicken broth, gently scraping the bottom of the skillet to remove the delicious brown bits.
- Stir in the heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
- Bring to a simmer. Place the chicken back in the skillet and any juices accumulated on the plate.
- Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165F.
- While the chicken is baking, cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Drain and set aside until chicken is done.
- When the chicken is ready, remove from the oven.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board and slice the chicken or dice into bite-sized pieces.
- Stir the tortellini into the sauce in the skillet.
- Add the chicken and mix to combine. Serve in individual bowls.
- Alternatively, you can place the pasta and sauce in a large serving bowl and top with the sliced chicken.
- Garnish with sliced fresh basil or chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use a large, oven-safe skillet to make the dish, as it will allow you to easily transfer it from stovetop to oven.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides before cooking to enhance the flavor.
- Brown the chicken on both sides until it is golden brown to keep the chicken moist.
- Watch carefully when cooking the garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes as they can burn quickly and become bitter.
- Scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan when adding the chicken broth for lots of added flavor in the sauce.
- Don't over cook the tortellini initially as it will continue to cook in the sauce and can become mushy.
- Garnish with fresh basil or chopped parsley just before serving, for a burst of flavor and freshness to the dish.
Nutrition
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