One bite of this marry me chicken is said to be so good you will get a marriage proposal and I can see why! It’s a delicious chicken dinner with a creamy, flavorful sauce.
Need more chicken recipes? A few other favorites include chicken piccata, chicken marsala and bruschetta chicken!
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So Good, You’ll Fall in Love
While a declaration of undying love may or may not happen after one bite of this chicken breast recipe, the creamy sauce in marry me chicken has so much flavor from Parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes that everyone will say be saying yes to make it again and again!
While I have quite a few creamy chicken recipes on the blog, like this popular creamy crockpot chicken, tuscan chicken pasta and chicken florentine, this marry me chicken recipe with it’s layers of flavors is a family favorite for special occasions.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Flavorful: Italian seasoned sauteed chicken breasts, a rich Parmesan cream sauce and sweet sun-dried tomatoes make this a treat for your tastebuds.
- Easy to make: Made on the stovetop, this easy to make marry me chicken dinner is satisfying and delicious whether you get a marriage proposal or not.
Marry Me Chicken Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken breasts: Two chicken breasts sliced thin into cutlets. Cutting the chicken in half lengthwise will help it cook faster and more evenly.
- Salt, pepper and Italian seasoning: This will season the chicken.
- Olive oil and butter: Used for browning the chicken for a nice golden crust.
- Garlic: You will need 3 garlic cloves, or 1 Tablespoon minced garlic.
- Chicken broth: Vegetable stock or white wine could be used.
- Heavy cream and Parmesan cheese: For the flavorful, rich and creamy sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: What makes this dish outstanding!
- Crushed red pepper flakes: Adds a little kick of gentle heat to the dish.
- Fresh basil: Thinly sliced for garnish.
How to Make Marry Me Chicken
Prep chicken then season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning on both sides. In a large skillet, melt butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sauté 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
In the same pan, reduce heat to medium low then add garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the broth, scraping up any loose browned bits for additional flavor.
Transfer pan to a cold burner, cool slightly then whisk in the cream. Add Parmesan then gently stir until cheese has melted. Return skillet to medium-low heat and stir in sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
Bring to a slow simmer, return the cooked chicken to the pan and simmer until chicken is warmed through. Spoon remaining sauce over top of the chicken and garnish with basil. Serve marry me chicken warm with mashed potatoes, if desired and enjoy!
Tips and Variations
- Don’t overcook chicken breasts: For tender, juicy chicken only cook chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F in the center. Use an instant read food thermometer for accuracy.
- Pound chicken breasts: For evenly cooked chicken, don’t skip pouding your chicken with a meat mallet into an 1/4-inch thickness.
- Crusted chicken: If you’d like to create a crispy crusted chicken, simply dredge the chicken in a shallow bowl flour after step 1 before you add to the pan. This adds a nice crust.
- Skip the light cream: Avoid using light cream, half-and-half or milk. Heavy cream is best for thickening the sauce and maximizing creaminess.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese: Grating your own Parmesan cheese from a block is preferred. Pre-shredded or canned does not melt as well.
- Pop of color: Add a handful of baby spinach at the end of cooking time, similar to creamy Tuscan chicken.
Serving Suggestions
- My favorite way to serve marry me chicken is with creamy mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes. Serving it over egg noodles or plain angel hair pasta is also a great option!
- You can also serve it over rice or with your favorite artisan bread to mop up the amazing sauce. My family loves it when I make this easy breadstick recipe!
- If you want to serve it with something lighter, low carb cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles would also be delicious as well as a veggie side dish like roasted asparagus.
More easy chicken dinners you will love include this chicken fettuccini Alfredo, chicken marsala recipe, chicken milanese and chicken Madeira!
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Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2 large breasts)
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1-2 tablespoons salted butter
Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
- 3 garlic cloves , minced (1 Tablespoon)
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream , at room temperature
- ⅓ cup grated fresh parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil , drained and finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt , to taste
- Ground black pepper , to taste
- Fresh basil , thinly sliced, for serving
For serving: Mashed potatoes
Instructions
Chicken
- Slice one pound chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Place each piece between plastic wrap and pound to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts. Add more seasoning if needed.
- In a large pan, melt 1-2 Tablespoons butter and 1 Tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sauté 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover with foil to rest.
Sauce
- In the same pan, reduce heat to medium low. Add 3 garlic cloves and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until fragrant. Stir in 3/4 cup broth, scraping up any loose browned bits.
- Transfer pan to a cold burner and let cool slightly. Whisk in 1/2 cup cream until smooth. Sprinkle in 1/3 cup parmesan and gently stir until cheese has melted.
- Return skillet to medium-low heat and whisk sauce 1 minute until heated. Stir in 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring to a slow simmer, stirring occasionally. Return the cooked chicken to the pan, ensuring it is well coated in the sauce. Simmer 2 more minutes, or until chicken is warmed through.
- Spoon remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with basil. Serve warm with mashed potatoes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
I think the real question may be, will your partner really pop the question after eating this dish? While a marriage proposal may or may not happen, the name is certainly a nod to how mouthwatering and delicious this Italian-inspired chicken tastes.
You can use dried oregano and dried thyme instead of an Italian seasoning blend.
Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs work great in this easy marry me chicken recipe and can be used in place of boneless skinless chicken breasts.
To store leftovers of marry me chicken, cool completely then place in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days.
No, I don’t recommend it. The creamy sauce will change texture when thawed.
Categorized as: American, Chicken, Dinner, Gluten-Free, Italian, Stovetop, Valentine's Day
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This is so yummy. Hits the spot everytime
can you substitute the cream with milk?
Yes you can, but it will not be as rich and creamy. I would start with a little less as well since it is not as thick.
Made it with the white wine suggestion. Amazing!!! New staple and excited to make for dinner parties. Thank you!!
So glad you enjoyed the marry me chicken recipe! Thanks for your review ❤️
Hi, I’d love to hear your white wine suggestion. How much and when did you add it to the pan? Thanks!
This marry-me chicken recipe is amazing and so flavorful. It goes amazing with homemade pasta. Really good Italian flavors.
The sun-dried tomato cream sauce was delicious! Served it with mashed potatoes. Definitely a recipe I’m keeping close.
Thanks so much for the recipe! A new favorite meal at my house!