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Creamy Dump-and-Bake Marry Me Chicken Pasta Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Recipe

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A comforting and indulgent one-dish creamy chicken pasta baked with sun-dried tomato sauce, perfect for quick weeknight dinners with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
  • 12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
  • ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
  • 2 ½ cups chicken broth
  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning. Brown chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken broth, softened cream cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, remaining Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add uncooked penne pasta to the sauce mixture and toss to coat evenly.
  6. Pour the pasta and sauce mixture into a greased 9×13 inch oven-safe baking dish. Nestle the browned chicken thighs on top, pressing slightly into the pasta.
  7. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
  8. Remove foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes to thicken the sauce and brown the chicken.
  9. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

Do not skip browning the chicken to add flavor and prevent dryness. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth sauce. Cover dish tightly during baking to trap steam and cook pasta perfectly. Check pasta doneness at 30 minutes to avoid mushiness. Add extra ¼ cup chicken broth if sauce looks dry before baking. Let dish rest before serving to thicken sauce. Blot oily sun-dried tomatoes to prevent greasy sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken pasta, dump and bake, creamy pasta, sun-dried tomato, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://sunnysavory.com/creamy-dump-and-bake-marry-me-chicken-pasta-easy-sun-dried-tomato-recipe/