Pic Credit: cookinginthemidwest
Marry me chicken tortellini is a delicious dish where tender chicken breasts are combined with some creamy sauce and cheese-stuffed pasta – simply delicious!
Whether it is a weeknight dish or a dinner party meal, this is perfect because the flavors are simply savory.
It doesn’t matter if you are searching for a simple tortellini meal or an exciting new option to serve your family for dinner, this marry me chicken recipe will quickly become your go-to dish.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
Ingredients
- 500g boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 250g cheese-filled tortellini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Chicken Preparation: Make sure to dry out the chicken breasts before proceeding to cook them so that you get a good sear. This leads to moisture retention besides offering an added advantage in creating the desired flavors.
- Cooking Temperature: Check the temperature of the chicken with the help of a thermometer allowed temperature of the chicken must be 75 °C ( 165°F). This is important in the preparation of food mainly chicken to avoid instances where it is served raw or badly cooked.
- Pasta Cooking: Bring the tortellini to the boil in a large pan of lightly salted water following pack instructions but under cooking them slightly. They can overcook the pasta which you really don’t want because it becomes soft and can barely balance with the rest of the ingredients in the dish.
- Sauce Consistency: When making the cream sauce, it should thicken up as it cooks and if it becomes too thick, add a little more chicken broth to thin it down slightly. This way a creamy sauce is formed and coats the pasta well.
- Ingredient Quality: For getting optimal flavor you should use fresh garlic along with the nice quality chicken broth. The use of fresh ingredients will make a huge positive impact on the taste of your Marry Me chicken pasta.
Marry Me Chicken Tortellini Recipe
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Chicken Breasts: I prefer using boneless skinless chicken breasts since they do not take time to cook and are always tender. You can also use thighs for flavor booster.
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Tortellini: Tortellini filled with cheese brings the extra layer of depth to the dish. You can use fresh tortellinis or frozen ones, depending on what you can get in store.
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Heavy Cream: Comes with slightly thick sauce that mostly had creamy texture. If you prefer a lighter version, you may replace the heavy cream with half and half or, better yet, whole milk although this will affect the creaminess of the dish.
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Garlic: Live minced garlic is used to make the dish more tasty. Do not use garlic power since it does not contain all the tastes inherent in the fresh garlic.
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Italian Seasoning: The combination of the herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme adds a good flavour to the dish. Depending on the direction of your preferences, vary.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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Prepare Chicken: Now, put olive oil in a large skillet placed on the medium flame. Later on, make the chicken breasts hot before seasoning them with salt and pepper. Throw them into the skillet and fry for approximately five to seven minutes on one side and five to seven on the other or until the chicken is golden brown and done. Take it off from the skillet and keep aside.
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Sauté Garlic: In the same pan, put minced garlic and cook until it turns brown or for approximately 30 seconds. Ensure that you do not fry as this will cause it to be bitter when eaten.
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Make Cream Sauce: Now add the heavy cream and chicken broth into the pan and stir with the garlic very well. Stir and let the mixture come to a boil with medium heat.
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Seasoning: Mix in Italian seasoning besides more seasonings and spices such as salt and pepper. Let this mixture cook for approximately 3-5 minutes you will notice that it will thicken slightly.
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Cook Tortellini: Meanwhile, prepare tortellini in another pan, following the directions in the packaging found in the market. Drain and set aside.
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Combine Ingredients: Cut the chicken into strips and place it with the creamy sauce into the same skillet where it has been cooked. Finally add cooked tortellini in the pan and mix everything together so that the pastas are well coated with the cream sauce.
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Garnish and Serve: Take off the heat, sprinkle the chopped parsley over it and serve hot.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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Add Vegetables: This food product is best eaten together with some spinach or sundried tomatoes to enrich the dish and add nutrition. The addition of garlic should bring you the best results when frying the nuts.
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Spice it Up: For a spicier sauce, bring in red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños when you are still cooking the sauce.
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Cheese Options: Shake some grated Parmesan cheese on top and a little can be stirred into the sauce for richness.
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Protein Variations: You may replace chicken with shrimp or even chop cooked sausage and cook it almost in the same manner.
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Make Ahead: It is advisable to cook this dish in advance; then it should be reheated on low heat with a little broth added to make sauce, thickened, just before serving.
EQUIPMENT
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Large skillet
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Pot for boiling pasta
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Mixing spoon
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Meat thermometer
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Knife and cutting board
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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Presentation: Essentially, spoon this into shallow dishes for an appealing presentation; sprinkle with parsley or basil on top.
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Pair with Bread: If you prefer, you can serve this with crusty bread or garlic bread on the side to help and it goes well by mopping up any remaining creamy sauce.
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Wine Pairing: Chardonnay or a glass of Pinot Grigio are ideal wines to accompany this meal ; increase your satisfaction while eating.
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Leftover Storage: The leftover should be covered and placed in the fridge for up to three days; you can then warm them up on low heat when you need to eat them.
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Salad Side Dish: Serve it with a side green salad dressed with olive oil and vinegar – this brings an extra element to the dish that counters the density of the pasta meal.
If you're looking for a quick and flavorful meal, check out this easy Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe.
