Let me tell you about the most INCREDIBLE chicken recipe that will literally change your life! This Marry Me Chicken is so phenomenal, legend has it that serving this dish could lead straight to a proposal. Trust me, once you try this dreamy, creamy masterpiece, you’ll understand why! 🥰
Picture this: juicy chicken breasts, perfectly seasoned and seared until golden brown, swimming in the most luscious sun-dried tomato cream sauce you’ve ever tasted. The first time I made this for my family, they practically licked their plates clean! The secret? It’s all in that heavenly sauce, darlings. We’re talking garlic (because everything’s better with garlic!), tender sun-dried tomatoes, rich heavy cream, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan that melts into pure magic.
Let me tell you – the moment that sauce starts simmering, your kitchen will smell like a cozy Italian restaurant! I love adding a pinch of red pepper flakes for just the right amount of heat, and fresh basil because we’re fancy like that! 💁♀️ The chicken gets so tender it practically melts in your mouth, and that sauce? DIVINE! Pro tip: make extra sauce because you’ll want to drizzle it over everything. I serve mine over pasta, but crusty bread works just as well for soaking up every last drop of that liquid gold.
You guys, this recipe is seriously date-night worthy, but easy enough for a weeknight dinner. And between us? It’s totally been my secret weapon for impressing guests! So run, don’t walk, to your kitchen and make this tonight. Your taste buds (and maybe your significant other!) will thank you!
Main Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken
- Chicken Breasts: 4-6 boneless, skinless pieces form the foundation of this dish. Choose medium-sized breasts for even cooking.
- Heavy Cream: 1 cup creates the rich, velvety base of the sauce. It’s essential for achieving that luxurious texture.
- Sun-dried Tomatoes: 1/2 cup adds intense, sweet-tart flavour and beautiful colour to the dish. Choose oil-packed varieties for better texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: 1/2 cup freshly grated brings nutty, salty depth to the sauce and helps thicken it naturally.
- Chicken Broth: 1/2 cup adds savoury depth and helps create the perfect sauce consistency.
- Garlic: 4 cloves minced provide essential aromatic flavour that permeates the entire dish.
Instructions of Making this Recipe
To prepare the Marry Me Chicken, start by preparing your chicken breasts – pat them dry and season generously with salt and black pepper. Mix flour with Italian seasoning on a plate and dredge each chicken breast in this mixture, ensuring they’re evenly coated while shaking off any excess. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
Place the chicken in the hot skillet and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another minute before pouring in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up all those flavourful browned bits.
Add the heavy cream to the pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Return the chicken to the pan, nestling the pieces into the sauce. Reduce heat to low and let everything simmer together for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is completely cooked through and the sauce has reached the perfect creamy consistency.
Just before serving, sprinkle fresh basil leaves over the top. The dish is best served immediately while the sauce is hot and creamy, either over pasta or with crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
What is Marry Me Chicken ?
Marry Me Chicken is a popular Italian-American dish that gained its charming name from the playful notion that it’s so delicious, anyone who tastes it might be inspired to propose marriage. The dish features tender chicken breasts coated in a luxurious, creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and Italian herbs.
The signature element of this dish is its rich sauce, which combines the sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes with the savoury depth of Parmesan and the richness of heavy cream. The chicken is first seared until golden brown, then simmered in this velvety sauce until perfectly cooked. The combination of tender chicken and indulgent sauce, finished with fresh basil, creates a restaurant-quality meal that’s both elegant and comforting.
Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper
- On a plate, mix flour with Italian seasoning. Dredge each chicken breast in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off excess
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering
- Add chicken breasts to the hot skillet and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove chicken from pan and set aside
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits
- Add heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes until it starts to thicken
- Return chicken to the pan and reduce heat to low
- Simmer for 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened to desired consistency
- Taste sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving
Notes
- Chicken:
- Use chicken breasts of similar size for even cooking
- Pound thick chicken breasts to even thickness if needed
- Can substitute chicken thighs, but adjust cooking time accordingly
- Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C)
- Sauce:
- Don’t rush the sauce reduction process
- If sauce becomes too thick, thin with additional chicken broth
- Use freshly grated Parmesan, not pre-grated, for best melting
- Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes work better than dry-packed
- Make Ahead & Storage:
- Store leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 days
- Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave to prevent sauce separation
- Sauce may thicken when stored; thin with a splash of cream when reheating
- Tips for Success:
- Room temperature chicken will cook more evenly
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when searing
- Allow sauce to simmer and reduce for optimal thickness
- Clean your pan between batches if cooking for a larger group
- Serving Suggestions:
- Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes
- Pairs well with roasted vegetables or a light salad
- Garnish with fresh basil just before serving
- Have crusty bread ready to soak up extra sauce
- Variations:
- Add mushrooms for extra depth
- Include spinach for added nutrition
- Adjust red pepper flakes to taste
- Can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for lighter version