If you’ve never heard of Marry Me Chicken, you’re in for a real treat! With its combination of chicken, creamy Parmesan cheese sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes, it’s a luxurious, yet simple recipe for an unforgettable meal that your friends and family will never forget.
My Marry Me Chicken recipe makes creating a truly memorable meal as simple as child’s play. Whether it’s for a special occasion, date night, or just a weeknight dinner, this dish will give you a real sense of accomplishment with minimal effort.
You’re probably wondering how the recipe got its name, right? According to internet legend, it’s so over-the-top delicious that if you serve it to your significant other, they’ll be moved to immediately ask you to marry them. Maybe. Or maybe it’s just that the ingredients “marry” so well. They do make a pretty irresistible combination of flavors. So irresistible that you may just find yourself going back for seconds!
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- The chicken is flavorful, tender, and delicious!
- It’s smothered in a luscious Parmesan and sun-dried tomato cream sauce.
- You’ll need only one pan.
- It’s impressive enough for guests but easy enough for busy weeknights.
🍳 Tools You’ll Use
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🛒 Ingredient Notes
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Chicken breast is my preference for this recipe. However, thighs work very well, too. Use whatever you like or what fits your budget.
- Heavy cream – You may find it labeled “heavy whipping cream” in your grocery store.
- Parmesan cheese – Use the best quality that fits within your budget.
- Red pepper flakes – Add more or less to suit your personal tolerance for spiciness. Or leave it out completely.
- Thyme, oregano, and basil – I always prefer fresh herbs when possible, but dried may certainly be substituted.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – Available either packed in oil or dry in a vacuum sealed bag. The ones packed in oil tend to be more flavorful.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How I Make Marry Me Chicken
- Cut the three chicken breasts lengthways to make 6 thinner chicken pieces.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper and coat well with the flour.
- Over medium heat, melt the butter and olive in a large skillet.
- Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown on both sides (about 4 minutes per side). Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the chopped onions and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken stock stirring to deglaze the skillet and scrape up any stuck bits.
- Turn the heat to low and stir in the cream and parmesan cheese. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes and then sprinkle with fresh basil.
- Serve immediately over rice or pasta.
🔀 Substitutions and Additions
- Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs in place of breasts.
- Add 1/2 cup of white wine to the sauce.
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a slightly lighter dish.
- Add 1/3 cup canned, drained mushrooms to the sauce.
- Instead of fresh herbs, use a dried Italian seasoning mixture or herbes de Provence.
- If you’re not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, try using roasted red peppers instead.
- Substitute Asiago cheese for the Parmesan.
⏱️ How I Make it Ahead
You’ll have two choices for making this recipe in advance. 1) Do all the prep work a day in advance and store the prepared ingredients in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook, or 2) prepare the recipe, allow it to cool completely, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat over very low heat.
🍽️ What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken?
This is a fairly rich recipe and is typically served over rice or pasta. I recommend pairing this with lighter side dishes such as steamed vegetables (green beans, broccoli, or squash), or a simple side salad with a vinegar-based dressing. Bread is optional but a nice addition to round out the meal.
For dessert, choose something light like Pavlova or Baked Alaska.
🍚 Storing Leftovers
Completely cooled leftovers may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30-second increments.
❓ Questions About Marry Me Chicken
Tuscan chicken recipes typically contain spinach and cherry tomatoes creating a similar, yet distinct, flavor profile.
Be sure to come back and let me know how your Marry Me Chicken with Cream Sauce and Sundried Tomatoes turned out.
Have a question or thought to share?
If you have a question about the recipe or if you’ve made it and want to share how it turned out, I would truly enjoy hearing from you. Just scroll down to leave a comment or add your star rating.
Thank you for stopping by. It means a lot to have you here.
📖 Recipe
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Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ small onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Cut the three chicken breasts lengthways to make 6 thinner chicken pieces.3 chicken breasts
- Season with salt and pepper and coat well with the flour.½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Over medium heat, melt the butter and olive in a large skillet.2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown on both sides (about 4 minutes per side). Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the chopped onions and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.½ small onion, 3 garlic cloves
- Add the stock stirring to deglaze the skillet and scrape up any stuck bits.1 cup chicken broth
- Turn the heat to low and stir in the cream and parmesan cheese. Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Add the chicken back to the skillet. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes and then sprinkle with fresh basil.1 tablespoon fresh basil
- Serve immediately over rice or pasta.
Notes
- To make in advance, either 1) Do all the prep work a day in advance and store the prepared ingredients in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook, or 2) prepare the recipe, allow it to cool completely, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat over very low heat.
- Leftovers may be stored for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
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I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.