Marry Me Pasta Recipe: Creamy, Comforting, Made for Cozy Weeknights
This Marry Me Pasta is creamy, comforting, and easy enough for a casual weeknight dinner. It comes together quickly and uses simple ingredients, but still feels special when you want something cozy and satisfying.
This is one of those pastas I make when I want dinner to feel a little nicer on an ordinary night. I’ve made it plenty of times when I didn’t feel like planning much, and it always feels comforting and familiar.
The sauce stays silky and the sun-dried tomatoes add just enough richness to balance the cream. Marry me pasta is a great option when you want a quick dinner that feels complete on its own, with leftovers that reheat well the next day. This is the kind of recipe that earns a spot in the regular dinner rotation.
Marry Me Pasta
This Marry Me Pasta is a creamy pasta recipe with a smooth, comforting sauce and a satisfying texture. It’s simple enough for weeknight dinners but still feels special when you want something a little nicer at the table. A practical, repeatable pasta dish that works well for real-life cooking.
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet
- Colander
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated, plus more for serving
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped, plus more for garnish
- ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water as needed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the penne until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain and set the pasta aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30-45 seconds, just until fragrant. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the broth and heavy cream, and mix well to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until it is melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Use a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and fresh basil. Serve warm, topped with extra Parmesan and basil.
Notes
- Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for the best flavor and texture. Dry-packed tomatoes will need rehydration and won’t give the same richness.
- Keep the heat low when adding Parmesan to prevent a grainy sauce.
- This pasta thickens as it sits. A small splash of cream, milk, or broth brings it back to a silky texture when reheating.
- Grilled chicken, shrimp, or rotisserie chicken can be stirred in for a heartier meal, but the pasta works well on its own.
More Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
- This beer mac and cheese is the kind of comfort bake that steals the table. Ultra creamy, deeply savory, and finished with a golden, crisp topping, it brings bold flavor without losing that classic mac and cheese feel. It’s rich, cozy, and exactly what you want for game day, a weekend dinner, or anytime you need real comfort food on the table.
- Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these halloumi burgers are an easy vegetarian favorite. Pan-fried golden and stacked high, they’re quick enough for a weeknight and satisfying enough for everyone at the table.
- Pasta alla Norma is a rich, satisfying Italian eggplant pasta dish with deep tomato flavor and soft, savory bites throughout. Each forkful feels balanced and full, making it easy to keep going for seconds. It’s the kind of vegetarian dinner that gets finished quickly and is remembered the next time you want something easy and satisfying.
- This pumpkin sage mac and cheese bake is an easy family dinner with warm flavors and a rich, baked finish. It holds up beautifully for meal prep, so you can enjoy it right away or reheat it during the week with the same steady, satisfying flavor.
- This one-pot broccoli cheddar soup is creamy, smooth, and deeply comforting, the kind of dinner that feels steady and familiar after a long day. It comes together into quickly and works just as well for quiet weeknights as it does for leftovers the next day.
