Marry Me Pasta | Elegant 35-Minute Dinner
This elegant Marry Me Pasta recipe features a luxurious sun-dried tomato cream sauce made without meat — a silky, flavorful dish that’s perfect for date nights or weeknight indulgence. The creamy sauce blends Parmesan, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes into a rich, vibrant pasta that feels restaurant-worthy yet comes together in just 35 minutes.
Equipment
- Large pot for pasta
- Non-stick or stainless steel skillet
- Mini food processor or blender
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- ¾ box thin linguine or long pasta (or 3 cups dry short pasta)
- 1½ Tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced
- 2 cups light cream or half-and-half
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained)
- 1 Tbsp oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
- 2 tsp chicken bouillon powder (or vegetable bouillon for vegetarian)
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (optional, for spice)
- ¼ cup reserved pasta water (as needed for thinning sauce)
Instructions
- Finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes, then blend them with 1 tablespoon of their oil in a small food processor until a coarse paste forms. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta water before draining. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, thyme, and bouillon powder. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in light cream and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Avoid boiling.
- Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan, prepared sun-dried tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and basil until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Simmer gently for another 5–7 minutes to thicken.
- Toss the cooked pasta into the sauce, adding reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan before serving.