Description
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is a creamy, flavorful, and comforting dish combining tender chicken breasts, smoky turkey bacon, and a velvety plant-based cheese sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy and elegant meal is perfect for busy nights, featuring a rich blend of sun-dried tomatoes, fresh garlic, and fresh basil, all served over perfectly cooked pasta. Adaptable and satisfying, it brings a delicious smoky depth and luscious creaminess to every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 2 boneless chicken breasts
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
Sauce
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream substitute (dairy-free)
- 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Pasta and Garnish
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta of your choice
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried Italian herbs. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown on each side and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes per side. Remove from pan and let rest, then slice thinly.
- Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In the same skillet, add smoked turkey bacon and cook until crispy. Transfer to a paper towel to drain excess fat.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Add minced garlic to the pan drippings and sauté until fragrant. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, then pour in the dairy-free cream substitute, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), and apple cider vinegar. Sprinkle in the natural gelling agent and simmer gently, stirring until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. Drain and add directly into the sauce. Stir well to coat, then add sliced chicken and crispy turkey bacon back into the skillet. Warm everything together and crumble plant-based cheese on top, allowing it to melt into the mixture.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle fresh basil over the pasta, and gently mix. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and moisture retention.
- Allow chicken to rest after cooking to keep it juicy and tender.
- Simmer the sauce gently to prevent separation or curdling of plant-based cheese.
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce if it becomes too thick.
- For added freshness and texture, add a handful of fresh spinach toward the end of cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, plant-based cheese, smoked turkey bacon, quick dinner, dairy-free pasta
