If you love creamy pasta recipes and the irresistible flavours of Marry Me Chicken, this One-Pan Marry Me Chicken Meatball Spaghetti is about to become a new favourite. Juicy garlic and Parmesan chicken meatballs are served with spaghetti in a creamy tomato, garlic and Parmesan sauce, with fresh spinach stirred through at the end.
Even better, almost everything cooks in the same pan. The spaghetti cooks directly in the chicken stock and tomato sauce, soaking up all that flavour while releasing starch that naturally helps thicken the sauce. Finish it with single cream and Parmesan and you get a beautifully silky, creamy sauce without needing to make anything separately.
It's an easy chicken mince recipe that's ideal when you want something comforting for dinner without creating a mountain of washing up.
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Why You'll Love This Marry Me Chicken Meatball Spaghetti
There is a reason Marry Me Chicken recipes have become so popular. That combination of garlic, Parmesan, herbs and a creamy sauce is ridiculously good – and turning those flavours into chicken meatballs makes it even better.
This recipe is:
What Are Marry Me Chicken Meatballs?
Marry Me Chicken is known for its rich, creamy Italian-inspired sauce, usually combining ingredients such as garlic, Parmesan, herbs and tomatoes.
For this version, I've taken those flavours and turned them into garlic and Parmesan chicken meatballs, then combined them with a creamy one-pan spaghetti.
The meatballs are browned first, which not only gives them plenty of flavour but also leaves all those lovely caramelised bits in the bottom of the pan. The onion, garlic and tomatoes are then cooked in the same pan, so none of that flavour goes to waste.
The Secret to Creamy One-Pan Spaghetti
The best thing about making spaghetti this way is that you don't need to boil your pasta separately.
Instead, the dry spaghetti goes straight into the pan with the chicken stock, tomatoes, onion and garlic. As it cooks, the pasta absorbs the seasoned stock while releasing starch into the remaining liquid.
Once the spaghetti is nearly cooked, single cream and Parmesan are stirred through. The combination of cream, melted Parmesan and starchy pasta water creates a gorgeous creamy sauce that clings to every strand of spaghetti.
Recipe Notes & Tips
Keep an Eye on the Spaghetti
One-pan pasta needs a little more attention than spaghetti boiling in a big saucepan of water. Give the pasta a good stir every few minutes to separate the strands and prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Different brands and thicknesses of spaghetti can absorb slightly different amounts of liquid. If the stock has been absorbed but your spaghetti still needs a few more minutes, simply add a splash of hot water or extra chicken stock and continue cooking.
Don't Rush the Final Simmer
When you first add the single cream, the sauce might look thinner than you expect. Don't panic and don't add loads of extra Parmesan to compensate.
Allow everything to gently simmer uncovered for a few minutes. The starch from the spaghetti and Parmesan will continue to thicken the sauce as it cooks.
Remember that the sauce will also thicken slightly as it stands, so it's better to take the pan off the heat while the sauce is still beautifully creamy rather than letting it become too thick.
Don't Overwork Your Chicken Meatballs
Chicken mince is lean and can become firm if it's handled too much.
Mix the chicken mince with the garlic, Parmesan, Italian herbs and seasoning just until everything is combined, then gently roll it into meatballs.
Dampening your hands slightly before shaping them can also help prevent the chicken mixture from sticking to your fingers.
Make It Spicy
If you like a bit of heat with your creamy pasta, add ½–1 teaspoon of chilli flakes when you add the paprika.
You can also scatter a few extra chilli flakes over each portion before serving.
Can I Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes?
Absolutely. While this version uses fresh cherry tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes work brilliantly with the creamy Marry Me Chicken flavours.
Try adding around 50–75g of drained and chopped sun-dried tomatoes alongside the fresh tomatoes for an even richer tomato flavour.
Can I Use Double Cream Instead?
Yes. Double cream will make the sauce richer and thicker, so you may need to add a splash of chicken stock or pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick.
I prefer single cream here because the Parmesan and starch released from the spaghetti already give the sauce plenty of creaminess.
Storing Leftovers
Allow any leftover Marry Me Chicken Meatball Spaghetti to cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
The spaghetti will continue absorbing the sauce while it's refrigerated, so it will be considerably thicker the following day.
When reheating, add a splash of water or chicken stock to loosen the sauce, then heat thoroughly until the chicken meatballs are piping hot throughout.
What to Serve With Marry Me Chicken Meatball Spaghetti
This is already a complete meal thanks to the chicken, spaghetti, tomatoes and spinach, so you don't really need anything alongside it.
If you're feeling extra hungry, though, it's perfect with garlic bread for scooping up the creamy Parmesan sauce. A simple green salad, roasted vegetables or steamed broccoli also work well if you want something fresh on the side.
Creamy, garlicky, cheesy and comforting, this one-pan chicken meatball spaghetti is exactly the kind of dinner that's easy enough for a weeknight but delicious enough to feel like a proper treat.
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