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This marry me chicken is made with tender chicken breasts in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Everything comes together in one skillet, with a quick sear on the stovetop before the chicken finishes cooking in the oven. The sauce is rich and savory, with a little tang from the tomatoes and a touch of heat from red pepper flakes. Serve it over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes to catch every bit of sauce.
Why You’ll Love It
This creamy marry me chicken combines golden-seared chicken breasts, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and parmesan in one skillet. It’s an easy dinner to serve with pasta, rice or potatoes.
Rich, creamy sauce: Garlic, parmesan, heavy cream and sun-dried tomatoes make a savory sauce that’s delicious spooned over chicken and your favorite side dish.
One-skillet cooking: Sear the chicken, make the sauce and finish everything in the oven using the same oven-safe skillet.
Simple ingredients: The recipe uses familiar ingredients, including chicken breasts, chicken broth, Italian seasoning and parmesan.
Easy to serve: Pair it with pasta, mashed potatoes or rice, and add a green vegetable or salad on the side.
You might also like to try marry me salmon, marry me gnocchi, marry me surf and turf, or for a vegetarian option these marry me chickpeas.
Marry Me Chicken Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easy to sear and finish cooking in the sauce. Choose pieces of similar thickness so they cook evenly.
Garlic and Italian seasoning: These give the sauce its savory, herb-filled flavor. Fresh garlic is especially good here.
Chicken broth and heavy cream: Broth adds flavor and helps loosen the browned bits from the skillet, while cream makes the sauce rich and smooth.
Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated parmesan melts more smoothly into the sauce than pre-shredded cheese.
Sun-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes add a concentrated, tangy flavor. Drain them before chopping and adding them to the sauce.
Red pepper flakes: Add a little heat to balance the creamy sauce. You can reduce or omit them if you prefer.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sear the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in an oven-safe skillet and sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
Make the creamy sauce: Add the garlic to the skillet and cook briefly until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings.
Finish in the oven: Return the chicken to the skillet, spoon some sauce over the top and transfer to the oven. Cook until the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part. Let it rest briefly, then garnish with fresh basil and serve with the sauce.
Substitutions and Variations
Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well with the creamy sauce. Adjust the cooking time according to their size and thickness.
Add white wine: Replace part of the chicken broth with a splash of dry white wine. Let it simmer briefly before adding the cream.
Add vegetables: Stir baby spinach into the sauce near the end of cooking, or add sautéed mushrooms or chopped artichoke hearts.
Adjust the heat: Leave out the red pepper flakes for a milder sauce or add a little extra if you prefer more heat.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your Italian meal with an antipasto salad and homemade mushroom focaccia.
Side dishes: Pair marry me chicken with rice, buttered noodles or garlic mashed potatoes. Add smoked asparagus or crack green beans on the side.
Desserts: Finish up with a traditional tiramisu or a slightly more unusual strawberry tiramisu.
How to Store
Store: Keep leftover marry me chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Freeze the chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. The cream sauce may separate slightly after thawing.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm gently in a covered skillet over medium-low heat until the chicken is heated through. Add a splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen the sauce, and stir gently if it has separated.
Top Tips
Use evenly sized chicken breasts: If the pieces are very thick or uneven, pound the thicker portions slightly so they cook at a similar rate.
Don’t skip the sear: Browning the chicken adds flavor, and the browned bits left in the skillet help build the sauce.
Keep the sauce gentle: Avoid boiling the cream sauce vigorously. Stir in freshly grated parmesan over gentle heat so it melts smoothly.
Use an oven-safe skillet: The recipe finishes in the oven, so make sure your skillet and handle are suitable for the oven temperature.
Check the chicken temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer and remove the chicken when the thickest part reaches 165°F. This helps prevent overcooking.
Creamy Tuscan Marry Me Chicken FAQs
Sear the chicken just long enough to brown the outside, then let it finish cooking in the sauce. The exact time depends on the thickness of the chicken breasts, so use an instant-read thermometer to check for 165°F in the center. Avoid leaving the chicken in the oven longer than necessary.
Yes. After making the sauce, return the seared chicken to the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook gently on the stovetop until the chicken reaches 165°F in the thickest part. Keep the heat low enough that the cream sauce doesn’t boil vigorously.
Best Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Marry Me Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 to 1½ Pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- ½ Cup chicken broth
- ½ Cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated and at room temperature
- ⅓ Cup sun-dried tomatoes
- ½ Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ Teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- freshly chopped basil, optional for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add the chicken and sear for 3 or 4 minutes on each side. Set the chicken aside on a plate.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic. Sauté for about a minute or until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon or spatula to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
- Simmer the broth for 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream, parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Stir and bring to a simmer.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce.
- Transfer the skillet into the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove it from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Serve immediately, garnished with freshly chopped basil if liked.
Notes
Don’t skip the sear: Browning the chicken adds flavor, and the browned bits left in the skillet help build the sauce.
Keep the sauce gentle: Avoid boiling the cream sauce vigorously. Stir in freshly grated parmesan over gentle heat so it melts smoothly.
Use an oven-safe skillet: The recipe finishes in the oven, so make sure your skillet and handle are suitable for the oven temperature.
Check the chicken temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer and remove the chicken when the thickest part reaches 165°F. This helps prevent overcooking.
Nutrition
This marry me chicken is one of those dinners where the sauce deserves just as much attention as the chicken. The garlic, parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes make a rich combination, and serving it over pasta or mashed potatoes means none of that creamy sauce goes to waste. It’s a lovely option for a dinner at home, whether you’re cooking for two or feeding the family.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
