Description
This Marry Me Pumpkin Chicken Pasta combines creamy pumpkin, savory Parmesan, and tender chicken breasts in a comforting and flavorful pasta dish. Perfect for cozy dinners or impressing someone special.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4-5 portions of pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or bucatini)
- 2 tbsp salted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried sage
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella
- Chopped fresh parsley or micro greens, for garnish
Instructions
1. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Set aside to rest for 10 minutes.
3. While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, then drain and toss with olive oil.
4. Lower skillet heat to medium. Add butter and let it melt, then sauté garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Add thyme, sage, and red pepper flakes.
6. Whisk in pumpkin purée, heavy cream, Parmesan, and Mozzarella. Stir until smooth and season with salt and pepper.
7. Simmer sauce for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened and flavorful.
8. Return seared chicken and cooked pasta to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken and let simmer for 5 more minutes.
9. Serve hot, garnished with chopped parsley or micro greens.
Notes
Use bucatini or linguine for a hearty texture that holds up well to the creamy sauce.
Letting the chicken rest before slicing ensures it stays juicy.
You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter version.