This marry me chicken is the perfect chicken dinner that is herby, creamy, tender, juicy, and goes perfectly with pasta or rice!
The sauce is cooked in the same pan as the chicken, allowing all the flavors to meld together beautifully. This dish is perfect for a cozy night in or for impressing guests with its sophisticated taste profile.
The creamy sauce adds a touch of indulgence to the tender chicken, making it a popular choice for those looking for a comforting yet elegant meal option.
This easy chicken dish takes 30 minutes to prep and cook! It is unbelievably easy to make and so delicious!
This chicken is made with a creamy sauce that is made with sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, fresh and dry herbs, and parmesan cheese. This combination is so good that it might give you a marriage proposal!
For more chicken recipes, check out my baked chicken tacos, grilled chicken legs, Pomodoro chicken, cast iron chicken, chicken limone, and blackened chicken.
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What is marry me chicken?
Marry me chicken is a famous chicken dish that is made with a creamy sauce made with garlic, heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, dry herbs, and parmesan cheese.
Every bite is loaded with juicy chicken that is coated with this delicious sauce.
This recipe got it's a funny and cute name, because if you serve this dish to your partner, they will instantly fall in love with you and your cooking, and you may get a proposal!
Why this recipe works
- Time- This whole recipe comes together in 30 minutes from start to finish and is great if you want a restaurant style dinner in a short amount of time!
- Perfect for meal prep- This chicken dish it perfect for meal prep. Make it in the beginning of the week, and serve it throughout the week for a protein loaded meal!
- Affordable- This dish is inexpensive to make and uses simple ingredients!
- Versatile- You can serve this chicken over a bed of pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice for a balanced meal.
- One pan dish- This whole recipe comes together in just one pan! Which is awesome and takes minimal equipment and minimal dishes to wash.
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Chicken- use either chicken thighs or chicken breast for this recipe. we used chicken breast for this recipe, feel free to use whatever chicken part that you like most. We used boneless chicken breasts.
Olive oil- use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor. If you don't want to use olive oil, you can use avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil!
Kosher salt– we used kosher salt in this recipe. You can use sea salt or flakey salt as well.
Black pepper- for flavor. Adjust the black pepper to your personal liking.
Garlic- freshly minced garlic will give you the best flavor for any dish. I highly recommend not using frozen minced garlic.
Heavy cream- the thickness of this sauce comes from the heavy cream and parmesan cheese, so it is important that you don't substitute the heavy cream with low-fat cream or milk.
Dried herbs- you will need dried oregano, dried thyme, and chili flakes for this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite brands of dried herbs. You can also use an Italian herb mix instead.
Chicken broth- use either homemade or store-bought chicken broth for this. You can swap it with vegetable broth as well.
Sun dried tomatoes- I always like using oil-packed sun dried tomatoes. They have the best flavors. Also, I like the ones that have Italian herbs, it gives this dish a lot of flavors.
Parmesan cheese- the parmesan cheese makes this sauce extra creamy and flavorful. I recommend grating your cheese yourself instead of buying pre-grated cheese for the best flavor.
Basil- fresh basil will give you the best flavor and aroma for this dish. You will need to cut the basil into ribbons.
Instructions
Start by patting dry chicken breasts with paper towels. You can slice each chicken breast in half to make them cook faster, I kept them whole. Season them on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.
In a large skillet, add the olive oil (or vegetable oil), and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and cook them on each side for 8-10 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the pan while you make the sauce (Place the cooked chicken on a plate).
Add a splash of the dried tomato oil to the pan, and saute the minced garlic over medium-high heat mixing constantly until the garlic is golden brown.
Add the heavy cream, chicken broth, chopped dried tomatoes, chopped basil, dried thyme, dried oregano, grated parmesan, and chili flakes, and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
Add the chicken to the creamy sauce and cover the chicken with the sauce, cover with a lid and simmer for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
Garnish with chopped basil leaves or fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- You can use your favorite parts of chicken for this recipe. Like chicken thighs, chicken tenders, and chicken breasts. Ensure that you clean the chicken and that there are no bones for easy eating.
- Dry the chicken with paper towels before you rub it with the spices. This ensures you have perfect crispy skin on the outside and tender meat on the inside.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is cooked on the inside and prevent your chicken from drying out. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches 165f.
- Make sure you preheat your cooking pan with oil before you add the chicken. This will ensure that your chicken won't stick to the pan and will allow a crust to form on the exterior of the chicken.
- Do not disturb the chicken! Let the chicken cook for at least 5 minutes without flipping it so it will have time to properly form a crust.
- Finish baking the chicken in the oven for an additional few minutes if your chicken is very thick. Sear the chicken on each side for 5-7 on each side, and then bake it at 420f for 10-15 or until the internal temperature is 165f.
- When you are sauteing the garlic, add a little oil from the sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor!
- Do not swap the heavy cream with milk or low-fat cream! You need the real deal for this dish and for the best creamy and thick sauce.
- I highly recommend buying a block of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself. I find pre-grated parmesan cheese-less flavorful and it does not dissolve beautifully in the sauce.
- To make this sauce lighter, you can add a splash of half and half.
Faq's
This chicken dish will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Yep! This chicken dish is indeed keto. For a whole keto meal, serve this chicken with cauliflower rice or vegetables.
This chicken dish is called marry me chicken since it's so delicious that it might give you a marriage proposal after your partner will taste this!
"Marry Me Chicken" is a popular dish that typically consists of chicken breasts cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with garlic, herbs, and cheese.
Storing
If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Reheating
Reheat them in the microwave or in the toaster oven (or regular oven) until it is warm and the sauce is bubbly. Don't overheat to not dry the chicken. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to thin it out.
Freezing
I do not recommend freezing this chicken. It has the best texture and juiciness while being made fresh. It is okay to reheat it a day, or two later, but the freezer might ruin the texture of this chicken and will dry it out.
Substitutions
Chicken- you can swap the boneless chicken breasts with skinless chicken thighs or swap them with chicken tenderloins.
Half and half- to make this dish less heavy, you can swap the heavy cream with half and half. Use the same amount.
Variations
Spicy- you can make this dish spicy by adding a pinch or two of cayenne pepper or adding more chili flakes. Add it to your personal liking.
Lemon- a zesty twist on the original, incorporating fresh lemon juice and zest for a bright and refreshing flavor.
Mushroom- adding mushrooms to the dish brings depth and richness to the sauce, creating a savory umami taste.
Spinach and artichoke- this variation combines the flavors of creamy spinach and artichoke dip with succulent chicken for a decadent meal.
BBQ- for those who love barbecue flavors, this version features tangy BBQ sauce smothered over tender chicken, creating a sweet and savory dish perfect for summer grilling.
Serving Tips
Pasta dish- toss cooked pasta in the creamy sauce from the chicken for a decadent pasta dish. Add some sautéed vegetables or crispy bacon for additional texture and taste.
Low carb- Serve this chicken with a low-carb side dish like roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, green beans, creamed spinach, etc.
Salad topping- use shredded chicken as a protein-packed topping for salads. Pair it with fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices, and your favorite dressing for a light yet satisfying meal option.
Side dishes- serve this chicken with air fryer garlic bread, butter garlic rolls, roasted vegetables, focaccia bread, or bruschetta with mozzarella.
Equipment
- Non stick pan
- Mixing bowl
- Olive oil
- Meat thermometer
More chicken recipes
Air fryer chicken tenders- These air fryer chicken tenders are crispy, tender, juicy, and loaded with delicious flavor.
Cast iron chicken breast- This cast iron skillet chicken is super easy to make, perfectly seasoned golden brown chicken that is tender and juicy and goes perfectly with any side dish!
Honey butter chicken- This honey butter chicken is crispy, sweet, juicy, and tender, and comes together in 30 minutes! My favorite part about this chicken is that is not deep fried, it is shallowed fried and uses less oil, and is less heavy.
If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to leave a rating and a comment below. We love hearing from you.
If you liked this recipe
📖 Recipe
Easy Marry Me Chicken (30-Minute Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 4 Boneless Chicken breasts
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 cloves Garlic grated
- ¾ cup Chicken broth
- ⅔ cup Heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- ⅓ teaspoon Chili flakes
- ⅓ cup Parmesan grated
- ¼ cup Basil fresh, chopped
- ½ cup Sun dried tomatoes chopped
Instructions
- Start by patting dry the chicken breasts with paper towels. You can slice each chicken breast in half to make them cook faster, I kept them whole. Season them on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.
- In a large skillet, add the olive oil (or vegetable oil), and heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and cook them on each side for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan while you make the sauce (Place the cooked chicken on a plate).
- Add a splash of the dried tomato oil to the pan, and saute the minced garlic over medium-high heat mixing constantly until the garlic is golden brown.
- Add the heavy cream, chicken broth, chopped dried tomatoes, chopped basil, dried thyme, dried oregano, grated parmesan, and chili flakes, and mix with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Add the chicken to the creamy sauce and cover the chicken with the sauce, cover with a lid and simmer for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is creamy.
- Garnish with chopped basil leaves or fresh parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- You can use your favorite parts of chicken for this recipe. Like chicken thighs, chicken tenders, and chicken breasts. Ensure that you clean the chicken and that there are no bones for easy eating.
- Dry the chicken with paper towels before you rub it with the spices. This ensures you have perfect crispy skin on the outside and tender meat on the inside.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken is cooked on the inside and prevent your chicken from drying out. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches 165f.
- Make sure you preheat your cooking pan with oil before you add the chicken. This will ensure that your chicken won't stick to the pan and will allow a crust to form on the exterior of the chicken.
- Do not disturb the chicken! Let the chicken cook for at least 5 minutes without flipping it so it will have time to properly form a crust.
- Finish baking the chicken in the oven for an additional few minutes if your chicken is very thick. Sear the chicken on each side for 5-7 on each side, and then bake it at 420f for 10-15 or until the internal temperature is 165f.
- When you are sauteing the garlic, add a little oil from the sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor!
- Do not swap the heavy cream with milk or low-fat cream! You need the real deal for this dish and for the best creamy and thick sauce.
- I highly recommend buying a block of parmesan cheese and grating it yourself. I find pre-grated parmesan cheese-less flavorful and it does not dissolve beautifully in the sauce.
- To make this sauce lighter, you can add a splash of half and half.
Alana says
I want to make this for 12 adults. How do I adjust the ingredients. It is delicious.
RichandDelish says
Hi, you can use the adjustment tool in the recipe card below. Change it from 4 people to 12 people.
Amy Ross says
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this!! Whole family loves it & that is a huge WIN ☺️
LaDonna says
My whole family absolutely loves this recipe
Lorraine says
This is my favourite dish. Everyone I cook it for loves it. Tonight we're trying it with pasta we usually have it with rice.
Eleanor Cook says
It was great and even better on day 2! The sauce needs time to “marry,” lol! I used chicken thighs and cayenne pepper rather than flakes.
Stormee says
Could I use julienne cut sun dried tomatoes not in oil? For this don't like the ones in oil
RichandDelish says
Yeah, sure!
Suzy says
Delicious! Made for dinner party and everyone was so impressed!
Rosemary says
Tried this recipe and it was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing. Rosemary from the UK.
Laura says
I loved this dish. Super easy and delicious!