10 Marry Me Recipes That Live Up to the Hype (Yes, They’re That Good)

These are the Marry Me Recipes everyone’s been talking about, and yes, they’re that good. From saucy chicken to cheesy pasta bakes and cozy meatless mains, each dish is built around a rich, creamy sauce that brings big flavor with barely any fuss.

This is the kind of dinner you make when you want something comforting, craveable, and a little over the top. Think parmesan cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and just enough garlic to make it interesting, no complicated steps, just really good food that tastes like more than the sum of its parts.

What Makes a “Marry Me” Recipe?

Marry Me recipes don’t follow rules; they just taste incredible. Most start with garlic, parmesan cream sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes, then finish with fresh basil or a buttery swirl of flavor. They’re perfect for one-pan dinner recipes that don’t skimp on richness. Serve them with steamed asparagus, crusty bread, or spooned straight over creamy mashed potatoes. These dishes aren’t just dinner, they’re a moment.

Marry Me Chicken

Creamy, garlicky, and packed with sun-dried tomato flavor, this Marry Me Chicken is the one everyone falls for. Pan-seared chicken breasts simmer in a rich Parmesan cream sauce that coats every bite. It’s bold, buttery, and made to impress without much effort. Serve it over mashed potatoes, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up every drop.
Get the recipe: Marry Me Chicken.

Marry Me Pasta

This Marry Me Pasta brings all the flavor without overcomplicating dinner. Penne pasta is tossed in a creamy sun-dried tomato and parmesan sauce, with just enough garlic and spice to make it stand out. It’s pure cheesy pasta comfort, simple, bold, and made to be shared.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces of penne pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook the penne according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for about 1 minute. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook another minute.
3. Pour in the broth and cream, stirring until well combined. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, then stir in the parmesan until melted and smooth.
4. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh basil. Serve warm, garnished with more Parmesan and basil.

Marry Me Salmon

Marry Me Salmon brings restaurant-style flavor home with almost no effort. A golden-crusted salmon fillet is topped with a thick garlic cream sauce, loaded with sun-dried tomatoes and basil. It pairs beautifully with steamed asparagus, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets (skin on or off)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, then sear the salmon for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for about 30 seconds. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute. Pour in the cream and broth, then simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the parmesan until melted and the sauce is smooth.
4. Plate the salmon and spoon the sauce generously over the top. Finish with chopped basil and serve warm, accompanied by lemon wedges and a side of roasted vegetables.

Marry Me Chicken Meatballs

These Marry Me Chicken Meatballs take everything you love about the original sauce and wrap it around juicy, golden meatballs. Simmered in a creamy parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, they’re rich, satisfying, and full of bold flavor. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes or pasta to make the most of every saucy bite.

Ingredients

• For the Meatballs:
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
• For the Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, parmesan, egg, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix gently and form into small meatballs.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and brown the meatballs on all sides, about 5-7 minutes in total. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and stir for an additional minute.
4. Pour in cream and broth, then simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in parmesan until smooth. Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer gently in the sauce for 5-7 minutes, until fully cooked. Garnish with basil and serve hot.

Marry Me Gnocchi

Soft, pan-seared gnocchi tossed in a velvety sun-dried tomato sauce that’s hard to stop eating. This Marry Me Gnocchi hits every note, creamy, herby, slightly tangy, and made in one pan. It’s a favorite among meatless gnocchi recipes and always gets scraped clean. Serve with fresh salad or garlic bread for an easy dinner win.

Ingredients

• 1 pound potato gnocchi (fresh or shelf-stable)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup vegetable broth or water
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• Butter, optional for finishing

Instructions

1. Cook the gnocchi according to package directions or pan-fry until golden and crisp, then set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds. Add sun-dried tomatoes and stir briefly, then pour in the cream and broth. Let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, then stir in the parmesan until melted and smooth.
3. Add the gnocchi to the sauce and toss to coat. Season with salt, pepper, and basil. Finish with a small knob of butter. Serve hot, garnished with additional basil and parmesan on top.

Marry Me Chickpeas

Creamy, cozy, and pantry-friendly, Marry Me Chickpeas are a plant-based twist on one of the most loved marry me recipes. Chickpeas simmer in a garlicky sun-dried tomato sauce with plenty of parmesan and herbs. It’s a comforting main that works with pasta, rice, or crusty bread — and it comes together fast with zero fuss.
Get the recipe: Marry Me Chickpeas.

Marry Me Tortellini Bake

This Marry Me Tortellini Bake is creamy, cozy, and made to impress. Cheese-filled tortellini are smothered in a rich sun-dried tomato parmesan sauce, then baked until golden and bubbling. It’s the kind of dish that makes its way into weekly dinner rotations. If you love marry me recipes, this one deserves a spot at the top.

Ingredients

• 1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375℉.
2. Boil the tortellini for 2-3 minutes, just until they start to float. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for about 30 seconds. Add sun-dried tomatoes, then stir in the cream and broth. Let it simmer for 3 to 4 minutes before adding the parmesan. Stir until smooth.
4. Toss the tortellini in the sauce, then transfer to a greased oval baking dish. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top and bake for 15–18 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly golden brown. Top with chopped basil and serve hot.

Marry Me Shrimp

This Marry Me Shrimp is buttery, garlicky, and drenched in a rich sun-dried tomato cream sauce. It’s quick to make and even quicker to disappear. Serve with rice, mashed cauliflower, or bread to soak up every last bit. It’s one of those marry me recipes that turns a simple weeknight into something unforgettable.

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails on)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup chicken or vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and sear the shrimp for about 1–2 minutes per side until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
3. In the same skillet, sauté garlic and red pepper flakes for 30 seconds, then add sun-dried tomatoes. Pour in cream and broth, then simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in parmesan until smooth.
4. Return the shrimp to the pan and gently coat them in the sauce. Garnish with basil and serve with rice, lemon wedges, or crusty bread.

Marry Me Broccoli

This Marry Me Broccoli proves that even the humble floret can steal the show. Roasted until golden and tossed in a thick parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, it’s rich and satisfying in all the right ways. If you’ve been exploring marry me recipes beyond the classics, this one is a must-try.

Ingredients

• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• ¾ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425℉.
2. Toss broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper on a sheet pan. Roast for 18 to 20 minutes, until edges are lightly browned.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and broth. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, then add the parmesan and stir until it has melted and become smooth.
4. Add roasted broccoli to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve warm, accompanied by crusty bread.

Marry Me White Beans

These Marry Me White Beans are humble ingredients doing the most. Cannellini beans soak up a buttery garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, turning pantry staples into something that feels special. It’s a meatless, satisfying food moment that’s just right with crusty bread or fresh greens on the side.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained)
• 1 can (15 oz) cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
• ¾ cup vegetable broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (plus more for garnish)

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and cook another minute.
2. Add beans, broth, and cream, stirring gently. Let simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Stir in parmesan and basil, then season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with more basil and plenty of crusty bread on the side.