Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake

4.7
(7)

This marry me chicken pasta bake is super cheesy studded with bits of sun-dried tomato. Topped with extra cheese and crunchy herb-seasoned panko, it’s easily a winner!

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake garnished with basil on green plates
Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
55 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
6
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 12 ounces uncooked penne pasta

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1 cup drained jarred julienne-cut sun-dried tomatoes

  • 4 tablespoons oil from sun-dried tomato jar, divided

  • 1 1/2 cups finely chopped yellow onion

  • 6 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced

  • 1/3 cup dry white wine

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1 (5 ounces) package fresh baby spinach

  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese or fontina cheese, divided 

  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

  • 1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)

  • fresh basil leaves

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake ingredients on a counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water. Drain pasta and transfer to an ungreased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

    Pasta in a baking dish next to pasta water in a measuring cup

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Season chicken breasts evenly with black pepper and 1 teaspoon each of the Italian seasoning and salt. Heat 2 tablespoons of sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165 degrees F (73 degrees C), 10 to 15 minutes, flipping occasionally. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Thinly slice chicken and add to pasta in baking dish. Do not clean skillet. 

    Cooked chicken in a pan, sliced on a cutting board with a knife and in a baking dish with pasta

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Add 1 tablespoon of the sun-dried tomato oil to skillet and return to medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add white wine, tomato paste, and 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, and cook, stirring often, until liquid is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Stir in butter until melted. Sprinkle flour over sun-dried tomato mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and pasty, about 1 minute. Gradually stir in reserved pasta cooking water and milk.

    Hand pouring milk to the sauce in a pan on a burner

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Cook, stirring often, until thickened and smooth, about 2 minutes. 

    Hand stirring sauce with a spoon in a pan on a burner

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Add spinach, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until wilted and bright green, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of the Paremsan cheese until melted. Transfer to pasta mixture in baking dish and stir until well combined. Set aside. 

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta in a baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil in a small skillet over medium-high. Add panko and remaining 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and cook, stirring constantly, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Sprinkle pasta mixture with remaining 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, and toasted panko mixture. 

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake topped with breadcrumbs in a baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Garnish with basil.

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake garnished with basil on a plate next to a baking dish with more of the pasta bake

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

565 Calories
23g Fat
41g Carbs
46g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 565
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 98mg 33%
Sodium 1120mg 49%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 46g 92%
Vitamin C 12mg 14%
Calcium 567mg 44%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 679mg 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.