Marry Me Chicken

For busy nights, the Marry Me Chicken recipe keeps dinner simple with one-pan stovetop cooking and minimal cleanup. You can prep some of the ingredients ahead to save time, then serve the finished dish with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables. My Chicken Skillet Enchiladas make another practical choice for weeknight dinners.

What is Marry Me Chicken?

Marry Me Chicken is a creamy chicken dish made with heavy cream, Parmesan, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs. It combines savory, tangy, and creamy flavors in a simple skillet dinner.

The name dates back to a 2016 Delish recipe by Lindsay Funston. During the recipe shoot, a crew member tasted the chicken and said they would marry her for it. That comment inspired the name Marry Me Chicken.

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts of similar thickness– 4. Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts of similar thickness for even cooking. If using large, thick breasts, slice them horizontally into thinner cutlets. Cook until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), adjusting the cooking time as needed.
• Garlic – 3 cloves, minced. Use fresh garlic for the best flavor. Mince the cloves finely to distribute the garlic evenly throughout the sauce.
• Sun-dried tomatoes – ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained. Their concentrated tomato flavor and slight tang pair well with the cream and Parmesan. Chop them into small pieces to distribute them throughout the dish.
• Heavy cream – 1 ¼ cups. Use heavy cream to give the sauce its smooth, creamy consistency and help it thicken as it cooks.
• Parmesan cheese – ½ cup, grated. Freshly grated Parmesan adds savory, salty flavor and helps thicken the cream sauce.
• Paprika – ¼ teaspoon. Adds mild warmth and depth that complements the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.
• Fresh basil – 2 tablespoons, chopped. Chop the basil shortly before use to preserve its fresh flavor and aroma. It pairs well with the tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken

1. Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
2. Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate. It will finish cooking in the sauce later. PIC. 1
3. Cook the garlic: Add the minced garlic to the same skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Avoid browning the garlic.
4. Make the cream sauce: Add the sun-dried tomatoes and heavy cream to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan and paprika. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir in the fresh basil just before returning the chicken to the skillet. PIC. 2
   Note: When using dried basil instead, add it with the Parmesan and paprika to give the herb time to release its flavor as the sauce simmers.
5. Finish cooking the chicken: Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). PIC. 3
6. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the chicken with chopped parsley and additional fresh basil, if desired. Spoon the warm sauce over the chicken and serve. PIC. 4

FAQs About Marry Me Chicken

Print This Recipe SAVE Saved Recipe! Pin

5 from 9 votes

Marry Me Chicken

Chicken breasts simmered in a creamy sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce make Marry Me Chicken, a one-skillet dinner ready in about 30 minutes.

Course:Dinner, Main dish

Cuisine:American, Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories505.7 kcal

Author Valentina Dimitrova

Cost $ 4.50 per person

Equipment

• 1 Large skillet or sauté pan 10-12 inch
• 1 spoon or spatula for stirring the sauce
• 1 cutting board
• 1 Sharp Knife
• 1 Measuring cups and spoons
• 1 tongs for turning the chicken
• 1 Garlic press

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves – minced
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes – chopped
• 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese – grated
• 1 teaspoon salt or less, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley – chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil – chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
• Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate. It will finish cooking in the sauce later.
• Cook the garlic: Add the minced garlic to the same skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Avoid browning the garlic.
• Make the cream sauce: Add the sun-dried tomatoes and heavy cream to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan and paprika. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly. Stir in the fresh basil just before returning the chicken to the skillet.

  Note: When using dried basil instead, add it with the Parmesan and paprika to give the herb time to release its flavor as the sauce simmers.
• Finish cooking the chicken: Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Garnish and serve: Sprinkle the chicken with chopped parsley and additional fresh basil, if desired. Spoon the warm sauce over the chicken and serve.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Storage and Reheating

Make Ahead: You can prepare the sauce ingredients and season the chicken in advance. Store them separately in the refrigerator until ready to cook. For the best texture, cook the chicken and finish the sauce just before serving.

Refrigerator: Let the Marry Me Chicken cool, transfer it to an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Freeze the cooled chicken and sauce in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. The cream sauce may separate slightly after freezing and thawing.

Thawing: Thaw frozen Marry Me Chicken in the refrigerator overnight.

Reheating: Gently reheat the chicken and sauce over medium-low heat, adding a splash of cream or chicken broth if needed. For the microwave, heat in short intervals, stirring between intervals, until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 505.7kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.4g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37.2g | Saturated Fat: 20.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11.1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 167.2mg | Sodium: 967.7mg | Potassium: 1011.1mg | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 7.4g | Vitamin A: 1639.2IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 190.2mg | Iron: 2.1mg

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

Did you make this recipe?

Comment and rate the recipe. Also follow us on Pinterest at @easyanddelish for more delish recipes.