Marry Me Chicken is juicy, garlicky and full of flavor! This recipe is a breeze to make and will totally charm your special someone. Imagine tender chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce for an impressive dinner. It ticks all the boxes for a cozy date night at home or even a family feast. With just a handful of basic ingredients and 30 minutes, you’ll have this delightful dish ready to dig in.
Why You’ll Love Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Looking for a delicious and easy chicken recipe that’ll sweep everyone at your dinner table off their feet? Look no further than marry me chicken! This creamy, garlicky, sun-dried tomato chicken dish is sure to impress! It’s a win for romantic evenings at home, family get-togethers, and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
Whipping up this recipe is a snap using basic ingredients you probably already have on hand. Start by sautéing chicken breasts, then simmer in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and basil leaves. Feeding a hungry bunch or want it extra hearty? Serve over pasta, mashed potatoes, or creamy polenta.
Who can resist chicken in a dreamy cream sauce? It’s a match made in heaven!
Let me guide you through the recipe with this easy to follow easy step-by-step VIDEO.
What Is Marry Me Chicken?
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the name. I have to admit, it’s a bit of a quirky title. But here’s the scoop: rumor has it, if you make this dish for your partner, they’ll fall head over heels for your cooking and might propose immediately because it’s THAT delicious! And you know what they say, the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. Intrigued? Well, let’s get cooking… and it might at least secure you a second date!
This recipe is so easy to make, starring chicken breasts, basil, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and heavy cream. Picture this: a glass of chilled chardonnay, some soft music setting the mood, and candles flickering in the background.
Sure, the recipe sounds mouthwatering, but why should you dive into marry me chicken tonight? Think about it! Simple ingredients, flavors that’ll knock your socks off, and you’ll have it plated in just 30 minutes. Plus, it won’t break the bank thanks to its budget-friendly and easy-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients, Tips and Substitutions
It’s a super simple recipe that won’t take more than half an hour of your time. You might even find some of these ingredients already hanging out in your fridge and kitchen stash. A surprise dinner party and you’re on cooking duty? No worries, I’ve got your back! In a flash, you’ll have guests at the table asking for seconds. Here’s the lineup of what you’ll need:
- Chicken Breasts: If your fillets are oversized, consider slicing them horizontally to create thinner pieces or giving them a gentle pound to ensure even thickness. Alternatively, you can opt for cutlets or boneless/skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, but note that thighs require additional cooking time.
- Olive Oil and Butter: To sear the chicken. You can even use the sun-dried tomato oil for extra flavor.
- Seasoning: A mix of salt, black pepper, garlic powder and sweet paprika.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: The star of the dish.
- Garlic: An essential player in enhancing the taste.
- Flour: To thicken the sauce, you can swap it for cornstarch.
- Seasoning: A simple mix of salt, black pepper and dried thyme. You can also use dried oregano or Italian seasoning.
- Chicken Broth: Swap for vegetable broth.
- Heavy Cream: For a super creamy and flavorful sauce. Do not use half-and-half, light cream or just milk as it won’t thicken the sauce very well.
- Parmesan: Adds both a creamy texture and a rich, savory taste to the sauce. Best when freshly grated.
- Tomato Paste: Enhances the depth of flavor and adds a subtle tangy sweetness to the sauce.
- Basil Leaves: A burst of aromatic freshness. You can also use parsley.
- Lemon Juice: Provides a zesty and bright contrast that balances the richness of the dish, enhancing its flavors.
- Chili flakes: For a nice spicy punch.
Helpful Tips
- Serve the saucy chicken with pasta, rice, orzo, mashed potatoes, gnocchi, creamy polenta or crusty bread.
- Pair with roasted vegetables, steamed asparagus, green beans or a leafy side salad.
- If you’d like to add some extra greens, simply toss a few handfuls of baby spinach into the sauce before adding the chicken back to the skillet.
- Storage: Any leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Just be sure to reheat it gently to maintain the tenderness of the chicken.
- I suggest avoiding freezing creamy sauces because they can develop a grainy texture when thawed.
Try These Next
- Garlic Mushroom Chicken with Bacon
- Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Cacciatore
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Orzo
- One-Pan Creamy Tomato Salmon with Chorizo
Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 chicken breast fillets
- 1 ½ tsp salt divided
- 2 tsp black pepper divided
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ cup finely chopped basil leaves
- chili flakes for serving
Instructions
- Get your prep done before you start cooking. Season the chicken fillets with paprika, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
- Finely chop the basil leaves, mince the garlic cloves, grate the Parmesan and finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes.
- Heat oil and butter over medium high. Add chicken and cook for about 5-7 minutes per side or until the chicken is cooked through and browned on both sides. The cooking time can vary with the size of your chicken. Remove from skillet and place on a clean plate.
- To the same skillet, add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in thyme and the remaining salt and pepper. Add flour and stir until incorporated. Pour in broth, bring to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes, while stirring the brown bits from the bottom of your skillet with a wooden spoon.
- Stir in tomato paste, next add cream and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low. Stir in basil and Parmesan. Taste and adjust salt. Return chicken to the skillet and simmer for 3 minutes.
- Top off with chili flakes and freshly ground black pepper. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Wow incredible. Not a huge potato fan so we used rice instead 10/10
17 ingredients is not a simple recipe. It certainly requires a trip to the store.
Indeed. When I saw the list my lazy heart broke…
Hi Mary, 17 ingredients might seem like a lot for a simple recipe. But here’s the thing: each of those ingredients adds a unique flavor that makes the ‘marry me chicken’ that truly delicious. Most of them are things you probably already have in your kitchen, and if you happen to have some chicken in your freezer, I’ve got some handy tips and alternatives in the blog post that could save you a trip to the store. So don’t worry, you’ve got options! Enjoy the recipe!
I cook a lot. I quadrupled the recipe for my family of 6. When I tasted the sauce and followed the recipe to the T it was lacking flavor with the original recipe it lacked flavor. I used fresh garden veggies. Green pepper, yellow squash, fresh cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and green pepper in addition to the ingredients as specified. In the end i used 1/2 cup of white rice vinegar and 1/2 cup cooking sherry. I doubled up on the spices, more parm, 1 stick of butter and added chili powder insteadof flake (1/4) cup. In the end it was fantastic. I highly recommend eating it with mashed potatoes and gravy although the sauce is gravy enough. Thanks for sharing.
My husband and I loved this recipe. I actually had all of the ingredients in my pantry except for the fresh basil. I substituted the heavy cream.(88gm fat) 485 ounce can of evaporated milk(2gm fat) I served it over pasta, so I used 3 ounces of pasta water to make up 58 ounces of dairy needed.
My boyfriend and I absolutely enjoyed this recipe! I had every ingredient at home so for me it was not a big deal to use 17 ingredients and as mentioned, every single thing adds to the wonderful explosion of flavours in your mouth! Can not wait to cook this again and wondering if you can use other types of meat instead of chicken?