Marry Me Pasta Recipe: Easy Creamy Dinner for Two
This creamy, garlicky pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil is the ultimate comfort food for date night or cozy dinners at home. Quick, easy, and loaded with flavor, it’s a restaurant-worthy meal that comes together in about 35 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fusilli)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained and sliced
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (or more, to taste)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: Grilled chicken, shrimp, or sautéed mushrooms
- Optional: Spinach or kale
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until just al dente (9-11 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain and set pasta aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add sun-dried tomatoes and red pepper flakes; cook for 2-3 minutes until tomatoes soften.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any bits from the pan. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let bubble for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Keep sauce warm on low heat.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until the sauce is glossy and clings to the pasta.
- Remove from heat. Toss in fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Plate immediately and garnish with extra Parmesan and basil if desired.
- Optional: Stir in cooked chicken, shrimp, or greens at this stage and let warm through before serving.
Notes
Reserve pasta water to help the sauce emulsify and cling to the pasta. Use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest sauce. For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and skip meat add-ins. To make gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. If reheating, add a splash of cream or broth to loosen the sauce. Add protein or greens for variation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: marry me pasta, creamy pasta, date night dinner, comfort food, easy pasta recipe, sun-dried tomato pasta, basil, parmesan, quick dinner, romantic dinner