Viral Marry Me Chicken Tortellini
The famous ‘Marry Me Chicken’ has completely taken over Pinterest and TikTok, but we found a way to make it even better. By swapping basic pasta for pillowy, cheese-stuffed tortellini, this incredibly rich, creamy, sun-dried tomato chicken dish becomes a restaurant-quality meal that is ready in under 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A One-Pan Wonder: Everything comes together in a single skillet, meaning less cleanup and maximum flavor.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: The perfect impressive weeknight dinner for when you are short on time but craving comfort food.
- Insanely Creamy: A heavy cream and parmesan base combined with the cheese from the tortellini creates the ultimate rich sauce.
Ingredients You Need
The signature flavor of ‘Marry Me Chicken’ comes from the oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes. Do not buy the dry ones in a bag! The ones in the jar bring a concentrated burst of sweet umami, and you can even use a spoonful of their infused oil to sauté the chicken for extra flavor.
How to Make It
Start by slicing your chicken breasts into cutlets and searing them until golden brown. Remove the chicken, then build your sauce in the same pan by sautéing garlic, red pepper flakes, and sun-dried tomatoes. Whisk in chicken broth, heavy cream, and parmesan cheese until it thickens. Finally, add in fresh spinach and your fresh store-bought tortellini (it cooks right in the sauce!). Nestle the chicken back in and serve.
Tips for Success
Use fresh refrigerated tortellini (found in the deli section) rather than dried tortellini. Fresh tortellini cooks in just 3-4 minutes right in the sauce, whereas dried tortellini will absorb too much liquid and leave you with a dry skillet.
Variations
To lighten this up, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, though the sauce won’t be quite as thick. You can also add crispy crumbled bacon on top for an amazing smoky crunch!
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or milk to loosen up the sauce, as the tortellini will soak up liquid in the fridge.
FAQ
Why is it called Marry Me Chicken?
Legend has it that this dish is so outrageously delicious, if you make it for your partner, they will propose to you on the spot!
Ingredients
Method
- Season the chicken cutlets generously with salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F internally). Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and begins to thicken (about 2 minutes).
- Add the fresh tortellini and baby spinach to the skillet. Push the tortellini down into the liquid. Cover and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the pasta is tender and the spinach is wilted.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, spooning some of the creamy sauce over the top.
- Garnish with fresh basil and extra parmesan cheese before serving.
