Marry Me Pasta

Marry Me Pasta is an inexpensive twist on a popular TikTok recipe, made with a garlicky cream sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe: Though this quick and easy pasta is meatless, it is packed with flavor.

Never heard of Marry Me Pasta? The idea comes from a popular TikTok recipe, featuring a generous amount of garlic, pops of flavor from sun-dried tomatoes, and a delightful, creamy sauce. 

However, instead of chicken, we wanted to substitute another protein to make this a less expensive meal. 

Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) are a healthy plant-based protein that’s much cheaper than chicken right now. (This week, chickpeas are $0.79 per can instead of $3.99 per pound.) They give the pasta a smooth and creamy texture with each bite.

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

Don’t be put-off by the length of the ingredient list! This pasta comes together really quickly, with mostly hands-off time. 

• Seasonings: These should be spices you already have in your spice cupboard: Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. 
• Olive oil: This is a major flavor component, so make sure to use extra virgin olive oil if you can. 
• Garlic: Measure the garlic with your heart. We like 5 large cloves. 
• Chicken broth: We used part chicken broth and part water in this recipe. If you prefer, you can use all broth. You can also substitute vegetable broth if you’d rather.
• Cornstarch: Be sure to dissolve your cornstarch in cold water and stir it until completely smooth before adding it to the pasta.
• Sundried tomatoes: The sundried tomatoes are *the* key ingredient in Marry Me Pasta (or chicken). We prefer to use the dry packed sun-dried tomatoes (like raisins) rather than the tomatoes packed in oil—just because they’re less messy to chop. However, either type works for this recipe.  
• Spinach: We wanted this to be a one-pot meal, so we added rough-chopped spinach to the recipe. It adds a lovely color and some healthy veggies to the meal. Make sure to chop them into single bites. 
• Parmesan cheese: I’ve found that the block of cheese you grate yourself melts better than the pre-shredded Parmesan available at the store. Use what’s most convenient for you!
• Half and half: When we tested this meal, we tried it with both heavy cream and half-and-half. We preferred the lighter consistency (and fewer calories) of the half and half, but again use what you like best.
• Basil leaves: These are an optional garnish. I love the look they give to the finished dish, and the fresh flavor it lends to the meal. 

Chickpeas

We opted for undrained chickpeas in this recipe simply because it was more convenient for us. If you prefer, prior to starting this recipe, you can whip up a batch from dried. 

Note: The two cans of chickpeas add about 1½ cups liquid total. If you prefer to drain and rinse your chickpeas, make sure to substitute a similar amount. Or, if you’re planning to omit the chickpeas, be sure to use additional liquid. 

Important Tips for Making Creamy Pasta

Once you start cooking, this recipe comes together really fast. Select Saute to preheat the pressure cooking pot. 

Before you add any ingredients to the pot, make sure to 

• measure the spices,
• measure the olive oil,
• mince or press the garlic, 
• open the can of chicken broth, and
• measure the 1 ½ cups water. 

Then, once you lock the lid in place and start pressure cooking the pasta, you can start chopping the spinach, dice the sun-dried tomatoes, grate the parmesan cheese, and measure the half and half.

I prefer to whisk together the cornstarch slurry right before I add it, since the cornstarch can settle if the slurry sits too long.

More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes

We love using an Instant Pot to make a quick weeknight meal. Here are a few other pastas you’ll love:

• Shortcut chicken alfredo 
• One-pot ravioli from frozen
• Rosemary bacon mac and cheese

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Marry Me Pasta with Chickpeas

Servings: 6 –8 people

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 minutes minutes

Additional time: 10 minutes minutes

Course: Pasta

Cuisine: American

Marry Me Pasta is an easy recipe made with lots of garlic in a pale cream sauce, with spinach, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese .

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes plus more for garnish if desired
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic minced or pressed
• 1 can 14 oz reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 box 16 oz rotini
• 1 1/2 cup water
• 2 cans 15 oz each chickpeas, undrained
• 1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 cups roughly chopped spinach
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese plus additional for garnish
• 1 cup half and half
• 4-5 fresh basil leaves cut into long thin strips, for garnish

Instructions

• Stir together the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
• Select Saute and preheat the pressure cooking pot. When hot, add the oil and garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Add the seasonings, stirring constantly, and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Add the broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to ensure no browned bits remain.
• Add the pasta, then add the water and stir. Use a spoon to move the pasta in an even layer. Without stirring, layer the chickpeas (with liquid) and distribute the sundried tomatoes on top. Lock the lid in place, select High Pressure and 4 minutes* cook time.
• When the cook time ends, turn off the pressure cooker and use a quick pressure release. When the valve drops, carefully remove the lid.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water. Select Sauté and add the slurry to the pot, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
• Add the parmesan a little at a time until melted. Stir in the spinach. Pour in the half and half and gently stir until combined.
• Let stand until the spinach has wilted, about 3–5 minutes.
• Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve in individual bowls, topped with a little basil, additional parmesan, and red pepper flakes, if desired.

Notes

* For the cook time: If your pasta box has a cook time on the package listed for 9 minutes, set the cook time for 4 minutes. If your pasta box has a cook time on the package for 7 minutes, set the cook time for 3 minutes. 

If your box has a different cook time listed, follow our pasta formula of half the packaged cook time, minus 1 minute.

Nutrition

Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 580mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1269IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 1mg

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