Easy 20 Minute Marry Me Chicken Recipe

This marry me chicken is a simple yet delicious recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes. It’s perfect for a special occasion or romantic dinner but easy enough to throw together on a weeknight. Juicy, golden brown chicken breast is smothered in a creamy Parmesan, sun-dried tomato, and herb pan sauce.  

 

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Olive Oil: I prefer to use olive oil for this recipe but you could use unsalted butter as well.
• Chicken Breast: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe because you can easily slice them into cutlets so that they cook quickly and evenly. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenders.
• Herbs & Garlic: Italian seasoning and freshly minced garlic are the aromatic base for this recipe. If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, sub with your favorite dried herbs like dried oregano or dried thyme. You can also use about 3/4 of a teaspoon of garlic powder in place of the freshly minced garlic.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Sun-dried tomatoes are a little bit sweet, a little bit tangy, and have a great, well-rounded flavor. I prefer to use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes with herbs as I find that they have the best flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Heavy cream will give you the best flavor and texture but you can sub with half and half if you prefer. Just keep in mind that half and half will give you a slightly thinner sauce. If you’re using half and half or even whole milk but still want that creamy texture, add a tablespoon or two of flour when you add the garlic and herbs and cook.
• Chicken Broth: I like to use low-sodium chicken broth or chicken stock. You can also use vegetable broth.
• Parmesan Cheese: I recommend shredding a wedge of Parmesan at home. Pre-shredded cheeses are coated in cellulose to prevent them from clumping, but this can also prevent them from melting well in your smooth, creamy sauce.
• Fresh Basil: I love to garnish with julienne cut fresh basil leaves for a bright flavor but you can sub with freshly parsley as well.

Instructions

Season chicken breast and cook in a large sauté pan until golden brown on both sides.

Saute garlic and Italian seasoning in olive oil, then stir in a few splashes of chicken broth to deglaze the pan and scrape all those delicious brown bits off the bottom of the pan – that’s where all the flavor is!

Add sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper.

Cook over medium-low heat until the cheese is melted and it thickens slightly. Add white wine vinegar and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Nestle chicken back into the sauce for a couple minutes or until warmed through. Top with fresh basil, serve with pasta, and enjoy!

Serve with Your Favorite Carbs

• The amount of sauce in this marry me chicken recipe can easily coat about 8-12 ounces of cooked pasta.
• If you want it to stretch it a bit further, add an extra splash or two of heavy cream, chicken broth, or pasta water. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
• You could also serve this marry me chicken recipe over rice or orzo!

Pro Tip

• Slice the chicken into cutlets. Slice each chicken breast horizontally in half so that it creates two thinner pieces of chicken. This will allow the chicken to cook more quickly and evenly. Here’s a video showing exactly how to slice the chicken. Please note in this video, they go a step further and pound out the chicken into thinner pieces for super tender chicken breasts. You are welcome to do this as well but it’s not required.

Serve With

Make this marry me chicken dish a complete meal with some of our family’s favorite including:

• air fryer zucchini
• roasted delicata squash
• roasted baby potatoes
• tomato burrata salad
• air fryer asparagus
• air fryer baked potatoes
• air fryer green beans
• simple roasted artichoke hearts

Why do they call in marry me chicken?

“Marry Me Chicken” is a popular name for a delicious chicken recipe that is said to be so good it will make someone want to propose marriage after tasting it. Where this name originated is unclear, but it’s believed to be called that because of the recipe’s romantic and flavorful nature. Everyone has their own version of this delicious dish!

Make-Ahead, Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: This is a great make-ahead meal that refrigerates well and reheats easily.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Freezing: Freeze the chicken and cream sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Reheating: Reheat marry me chicken and cream sauce in a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a splash of cream or broth to loosen up the sauce. I don’t love to microwave chicken to reheat it but that would work as well! Season to taste before serving.

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