Marry Me Chicken Mac

Name: Marry Me Chicken Mac (One-Pan Pasta)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes; 1 lb chicken breast, diced; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1/2 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained; 2.5 cups cavatappi pasta; 4 cups chicken broth; 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided; 1/2 cup milk; dried parsley, for garnish; grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

Marry Me Chicken Mac is a creamy, one-pan pasta dinner combining tender chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and cavatappi in a rich mozzarella sauce—ready in under 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.

🌍American 🏷️Marry me chicken 🏷️Chicken pasta 🏷️One-pan meal 🏷️Mac and cheese Sun-dried tomato

🏷️

🏷️Mozzarella

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TikTok

Total

30 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$31–$51

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

-0:00

TikTok

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp oil from sun-dried tomatoes
1 lb chicken breast, diced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp red pepper flakesoptional
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
2.5 cups cavatappi pasta
4 cups chicken broth
2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup milk
dried parsley, for garnishoptional
grated Parmesan cheese, for servingoptional

17 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and oil from the sun-dried tomato jar.
2
Add the diced chicken to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
3
Cook the chicken, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
4
Add the minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until the garlic is fragrant.
5
Stir in the uncooked pasta, then pour in the chicken broth. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer.
6
Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and let it cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the liquid.
7
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in 2 cups of the shredded mozzarella and the milk until the cheese is melted and a creamy sauce forms.
8
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top.
9
Place the skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, just until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.
10
Garnish with dried parsley and serve hot. Top with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Don't drain the pasta completely—a light starch coating helps the creamy sauce cling to each piece.
Shred mozzarella fresh rather than using pre-shredded if possible; it melts more smoothly into the sauce.
Add the cheese off-heat or over low heat to prevent clumping and maintain a silky sauce.
Taste and adjust seasoning after adding cheese, as mozzarella can dilute salt; the spice blend (garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes) is essential for flavor depth.

Substitutions

Cavatappi → penne or rigatoni (holds sauce the same way)
Mozzarella → sharp cheddar or Gruyère (will intensify flavor; reduce quantity by 1/4 cup)
Sun-dried tomatoes → roasted red peppers or fresh cherry tomatoes (add roasted peppers at the end to avoid mushiness)
Chicken broth → vegetable broth (maintains consistency; taste for salt as vegetable broth varies)