Marry Me Chicken Pasta: When Love Gets Inventive in the Kitchen

I never thought I’d say this about a pasta dish—but the smell of garlic and spicy tomato simmering on a Tuesday? It stirs something weird. Like, I forgot all the stress from work kind of thing. This isn’t just creamy cheese on pasta. There’s a gentle warmth from the crushed red peppers that sneaks up on you, and the basil? Bright and green, like a punch of hope in every bite.

Why now? Everyone’s obsessed with nostalgia dishes, sure, but this one hits differently. It’s simple, it’s comforting, but also feels kinda daring. Maybe because it’s so easy to throw together, yet feels like you pulled off a restaurant masterpiece. Honestly, I put it on because I needed to shake up the usual—something spicy, a little cheeky, to make dinner feel serious but fun. No idea if anyone will say yes, but I think I’d marry this flavor combo if I could.

Spicy Garlic Tomato Pasta

This pasta dish features a spicy tomato sauce infused with garlic and crushed red peppers, cooked until the flavors meld and the sauce thickens slightly. The dish is finished with fresh basil, giving it a vibrant appearance and a fragrant aroma, with the pasta coated in a glossy, flavorful sauce.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 520

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice uncooked
• 4 cloves garlic finely minced
• 400 g canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes adjust to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• fresh basil leaves basil roughly chopped, for garnish
• to taste salt & pepper

Equipment

• Large Pot
• Skillet or frying pan
• Wooden spoon
• Knife
• Cutting board

Method

 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
   400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice
3. Add the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly and the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
   400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice
4. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss well to coat the noodles evenly, cooking for another 1-2 minutes until heated through and glossy.
   400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice
5. Serve the pasta topped with fresh chopped basil leaves. Optionally, add extra red pepper flakes or basil for garnish.
   400 g spaghetti or pasta of choice

Notes

Adjust the red pepper flakes based on desired spiciness. For a richer flavor, add grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Who knew that a little cream, some spicy peppers, and a handful of basil could make me forget all the other noise? It’s kind of a surprise even to me how much I keep reaching for this dish. Maybe it’s just that sometimes, the simplest food sneakily becomes the best thing you’ve made lately. Or maybe I’m just hungry again.