Marry Me Chicken delivers restaurant-quality flavor at home: tender chicken in a rich, creamy sauce studded with sun-dried tomatoes and finished with fresh basil. It’s a simple, impressive meal ready in about 30 minutes—perfect for weeknights or a special dinner.
This easy dish is ideal served over pasta, with garlic bread, or alongside soft rolls to soak up the sauce.
Table of Contents
- What is Marry Me Chicken?
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- How To Make Marry Me Chicken
- How To Serve It
- FAQ
- More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Marry Me Chicken Recipe
What is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is a quick, creamy chicken dish made with garlic, heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan. The savory, slightly tangy cream sauce elevates simple chicken breasts into a dish that feels indulgent and memorable.
Ingredients Needed
You’ll need straightforward ingredients to make this recipe:
Key notes on ingredients:
- Chicken breasts (boneless, skinless): Slice each breast horizontally to make thinner cutlets so they cook quickly and evenly. Chicken cutlets work well too.
- Chicken bouillon powder: Adds depth of flavor and enhances the savory profile.
- Olive oil: Use a neutral oil if preferred.
- Minced garlic: Essential for aroma and flavor. Garlic powder can be added to the sauce if desired.
- Chicken stock: Low-sodium stock gives better control over salt. Broth or white wine are alternatives.
- Heavy cream: Use full-fat cream for a thick, silky sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Choose the oil-packed variety for concentrated, bright tomato flavor.
- Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes: Add herby warmth and a little heat to balance the creaminess.
- Fresh basil and Parmesan: Fresh basil brightens the dish and grated Parmesan adds savory richness.
Substitutions and Variations
Customize this recipe to suit taste or what you have on hand:
- Chicken parts: Use boneless skinless thighs, drumsticks, or tenders for a different texture. Thighs are forgiving and stay moist.
- Roasted red pepper: Swap for sun-dried tomatoes for a milder, sweeter flavor.
- Tomato paste: Add for a deeper color and intensified tomato flavor.
- Vegetables: Stir in mushrooms, spinach, green beans, or peppers for more nutrients and texture.
- Thicker sauce: Mix a little cornstarch with cold water and stir in to thicken.
- Cream cheese: Adding cream cheese will make the sauce richer and creamier.
- Cheese swap: Use Asiago in place of Parmesan for a nuttier profile.
- Fresh tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes can be used instead of sun-dried for a fresher bite.
- Sun-dried tomato oil: Use the oil from the jar to sauté garlic for extra flavor.
How To Make Marry Me Chicken
Follow these simple steps to make Marry Me Chicken in about 30 minutes.
- Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and chicken bouillon powder.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and pan-sear the chicken about 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Remove the chicken from the pan.
Reduce heat to medium. Sauté garlic briefly, then add chicken stock to deglaze the pan. Stir in heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, half the Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken reaches 165°F.
Finish by sprinkling the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil over the top before serving.
Hint: An instant-read thermometer helps ensure the chicken is cooked through. The internal temperature should register 165°F (74°C).
How To Serve It
Serve Marry Me Chicken over your favorite pasta—spaghetti, linguine, or penne—or alongside mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to enjoy every bit of the sauce. For a lower-carb option, serve with zucchini noodles (zoodles).
FAQ
The name comes from the idea that this flavorful, comforting dish is impressive enough to inspire a marriage proposal—an affectionate culinary legend rather than a promise.
A “marry me” dish typically combines bold, savory flavors—often cream, cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes—to create an indulgent, crowd-pleasing meal.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Creamy sauces don’t freeze well, so freezing is not recommended.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Here are other simple dinner ideas you may enjoy:
- Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings
- Lemon Butter Salmon
- Lemon Butter Tilapia
- Garlic Butter Tilapia
- Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce
- Roasted Turkey Thighs
If you make this Marry Me Chicken, share a photo on Instagram and tag @preciouscore or use the hashtag #preciouscore — it’s always a joy to see your creations!
Marry Me Chicken
Equipment
- 12-inch skillet — a wide skillet works best for searing and simmering.
- Fish spatula — makes flipping easier.
- Instant-read meat thermometer — helpful to check doneness.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (about 3 breasts, each cut in half)
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup basil leaves, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Season chicken: Slice each breast in half horizontally, pat dry, and season both sides with salt, pepper, and bouillon powder.
- Pan-sear: Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat with the olive oil. Sear chicken 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove from pan.
- Sauté garlic: Add minced garlic to the pan and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze: Pour in chicken stock and scrape up any browned bits.
- Make sauce: Stir in heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, ¼ cup Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Return chicken to the pan and simmer about 5 minutes until cooked through (165°F).
- Finish: Sprinkle remaining Parmesan and sliced basil over the chicken.
- Serve: Plate with pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice and spoon extra sauce over the top.
Notes
Chicken: Thighs or drumsticks work as alternatives; thighs are less likely to dry out.
Skillet: Use a wide pan to avoid overcrowding; cook in batches if necessary.
Herbs: Thyme, rosemary, or parsley can replace Italian seasoning or basil if preferred.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. Avoid freezing creamy sauces.
Nutrition
Additional Info
Share and tag @preciouscore or use #PreciousCore.