How do you make marry me chicken tortellini?

Making marry me chicken tortellini involves first seasoning and cooking chicken pieces, then creating a flavorful sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and herbs. The cheese tortellini cooks directly in the sauce, and everything comes together with the addition of heavy cream, spinach, and parmesan cheese. The entire dish is made in one pan and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Why is it called "marry me chicken"?

The dish earned its name because it's so delicious that it supposedly inspired marriage proposals! The original version was a creamy sun-dried tomato chicken dish that became famous on food blogs and social media for being irresistibly good. The tortellini version builds on that concept by adding pasta for an even more impressive meal worth proposing over.

What kind of tortellini works best for this recipe?

Cheese tortellini works best in this recipe, particularly varieties filled with a mixture of ricotta and parmesan. The mild cheese filling complements the flavors in the sauce without competing with them. Fresh refrigerated tortellini is ideal for texture, but frozen tortellini can also work well (just adjust cooking time accordingly). Spinach tortellini is another excellent option that adds an extra layer of flavor.

Can you use store-bought tortellini or make it from scratch?

Store-bought refrigerated tortellini is recommended for convenience and consistent results. While making tortellini from scratch is possible, it's time-consuming and unnecessary for this dish, as quality store-bought varieties work perfectly. If you're feeling ambitious, homemade tortellini would certainly elevate the dish further, but the focus of this recipe is creating an impressive meal with minimal effort. "Here's your guide to creamy garlic chicken recipe " for another flavorful chicken option.

What sauce is used in marry me chicken tortellini?

The signature sauce combines chicken broth, tomato paste, and heavy cream, enriched with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasonings. This creates a pink-hued, creamy tomato sauce with bits of sun-dried tomato throughout. The sauce is thickened slightly by flour from the chicken coating and enriched with parmesan cheese, resulting in a velvety texture that clings beautifully to both the chicken and tortellini.

Can you make marry me chicken tortellini ahead of time?

Yes, marry me chicken tortellini can be made ahead of time, though it's best served fresh. If preparing in advance, slightly undercook the tortellini and store the dish refrigerated for up to 2 days. When reheating, add a splash of cream or broth to refresh the sauce, and warm gently over low heat to prevent the sauce from separating. The dish can also be frozen, though the texture of the tortellini may change slightly upon thawing and reheating.

Easy Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Recipe

Marry Me Chicken Tortellini

Print Recipe

A creamy one-pan meal combining seasoned chicken chunks with cheese tortellini in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce.

Author: Chef Rina
Prep Time: 10
Cook Time: 20
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American

Ingredients

Scale

1lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 shallot, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, finely chopped
1/4 cup (3oz) tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth
1lb (16oz) cheese tortellini
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups spinach, roughly chopped
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
For serving: Fresh basil, black pepper, red pepper flakes, parmesan

Instructions

Season chicken chunks with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. Toss with flour to coat lightly.
Heat butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
Add remaining oil, shallot, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Add red pepper flakes.
Stir in tomato paste and chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from pan.
Add tortellini, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 3-4 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring halfway.
Return chicken to skillet. Add spinach, cream, and parmesan. Stir until combined and spinach is wilted.
Serve hot with fresh basil, more parmesan, and black pepper.

Notes

Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4
Calories: 650 kcal
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 890mg
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 17g
Carbohydrates: 54g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 38g
Cholesterol: 165mg

Keywords: marry me chicken, tortellini recipe, creamy pasta, sun-dried tomato chicken, one-pan dinner

Find it online: https://www.joyliciousrecipes.com/marry-me-chicken-tortellini-recipe/