Marry Me Chicken
This viral Marry Me Chicken features tender pan-seared chicken breasts in a luscious sun-dried tomato cream sauce with garlic, Italian herbs, and Parmesan cheese. The name says it all – this restaurant-quality dish is so delicious it might just inspire a proposal! Ready in just 30 minutes, it's perfect for date nights or any time you want to impress.
Equipment
- Large skillet 12-inch, oven-safe if finishing in oven
- Meat thermometer For checking doneness
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Chef's knife
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts about 1.5-2 lbs or 680-900g total, pounded to even thickness
- 1 teaspoon salt 5g
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2g
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2g
- 2 tablespoons olive oil 30ml
For the Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter 45g
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes 120ml or 85g, oil-packed, drained and chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth 240ml
- 1 cup heavy cream 240ml
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 50g, freshly grated
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 5g
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1g, optional for heat
For Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- additional Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. If breasts are thick, pound them to an even 3/4-inch thickness for uniform cooking.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C), then transfer to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in the same skillet. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally.
- Return chicken to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through and allow flavors to meld.
- Garnish with fresh basil and additional Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or with crusty bread to soak up the incredible sauce.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a more budget-friendly option with extra flavor – adjust cooking time to 7-8 minutes per side.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, though the sauce will be slightly thinner.
- The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days – reheat gently and cook fresh chicken when ready to serve.
- Leftover Marry Me Chicken keeps for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- If sauce becomes too thick upon reheating, thin it with a splash of chicken broth or cream.
- Sun-dried tomatoes in oil have the best flavor, but you can use the dry-packed variety – just rehydrate them in warm water for 10 minutes first.
- Fresh Parmesan cheese melts much better than pre-shredded, which contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- For meal prep, cook chicken and sauce completely, then portion into containers with your choice of sides.
- This recipe easily doubles for a crowd – just use a larger skillet or work in batches.
- Try adding fresh spinach or baby kale to the sauce in the last 2 minutes of cooking for extra nutrition.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 42gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 785mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 8mg
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