Best Marry Me Chicken (Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce)

When you try this recipe, you’ll discover why it’s called Marry Me Chicken! This creamy dish will quickly become a go-to dinner for the busiest weeknights.

Made with seared chicken thighs in a sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce, the whole family will love this quick dinner. The dish gets its name from the irresistible taste that’s said to be delicious enough to elicit a marriage proposal!

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💚 About This Recipe

If you're looking for a fancy chicken dish that's ready in under 30 minutes, you'll love this marry me chicken! Featuring a homemade sun-dried tomato sauce, this creamy and savory chicken will be a new family favorite.

This dish gets its tongue-in-cheek name from its ability to elicit marriage proposals. It's that good! If you need a tasty chicken dish for a weeknight dinner or a holiday meal, this is a must-try.

Right up there with my One Pot Chicken and Rice, this is one of my favorite ways to prepare chicken for family meals.

🧂 Ingredients Needed

• flour - coats the chicken and ensures you achieve a nice brown outer layer.
• salt and black pepper - to taste.
• seasonings - I used thyme, oregano, and basil leaves to provide some additional herbal flavor.
• chicken breasts - can be substituted with chicken thighs, but cooking time will need to be adjusted.
• olive oil - for sautéing the chicken.
• garlic - buy pre-minced, jarred garlic for easier prep, or use fresh garlic if you prefer.
• chicken stock - helps form a nice savory sauce.
• red pepper flakes - for a kick of heat.
• heavy cream- gives your tasty chicken its signature rich sauce.
• Parmesan cheese - adds melty, cheesy goodness.
• sun-dried tomatoes - provide additional flavor and give this dish a bit of a fancy twist.

🔪 Instructions

1. Combine dry ingredients (flour, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano) in a large mixing bowl.
2. Cover both sides of each chicken breast with the flour mixture.
3. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat, then cook the chicken breasts for about 5 minutes on each side.
4. Remove the chicken from the pan and add minced garlic. Cook until fragrant.

5. Pour in the chicken stock and add red pepper flakes. Scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
6. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan, then bring to a simmer.
7. Add sun-dried tomatoes and mix until well combined.
8. Return cooked chicken to the pan with the sauce and cook on low until everything is heated through. Garnish with basil if desired.

❔ FAQs

💭 Expert Tips and Tricks

• Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature for safety.
• For best results, grate fresh Parmesan cheese yourself. Pre-grated works in a pinch though.
• Pound thick chicken breasts into a flatter shape to promote even browning and cooking.
• Serve marry me chicken with pasta, rice, potatoes, or a hearty bread.
• If you find the creamy Parmesan sauce a bit too rich, add a bit of lemon juice for acidity to cut the creaminess. You could also add a small amount of white wine.

📌 Next time you need a quick but fancy chicken dinner, this recipe has you covered. Restaurant quality homemade sauce pairs with browned chicken for a flavorful and comforting meal!

💡 Substitutions and Variations

• I recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or chicken thighs, or some combination of the two! Be aware that they cook at slightly different rates.
• You can use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, but your dish may need extra seasoning.
• For additional flavor, add seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or whatever else you have on hand and enjoy!
• Make a lighter sauce by using some combination of milk and cream.
• Use diced or canned tomatoes instead of sundried tomatoes if you like. Be sure to drain off as much liquid as possible to avoid watery sauce.
• Feel free to garnish with dried basil if you don't have any fresh leaves on hand.

🥫 Storage and Reheating

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, either cook in the microwave for about 30 seconds at a time, or transfer back to a pan on the stovetop and heat through. Add a splash of water to the leftovers if the sauce is too thick.

I don't recommend storing this chicken in the freezer, as creamy sauces tend to become grainy when frozen and thawed.

🍴 What To Serve With This Dish

Serve this tasty chicken alongside Roasted Pesto Potatoes or Simple Garlic and Rosemary Potatoes for a hearty and healthy side. You could also pair with Parmesan Garlic Bread, or serve over top of Instant Pot Quinoa.

📋 Recipe Card

Best Marry Me Chicken (Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce)

Recipe Author: Kristin King

This tasty chicken dish comes complete with a rich and creamy tomato sauce and pairs perfectly with pasta, rice, potatoes, and more!

5 from 61 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ⅓ cup flour
• ▢ salt & pepper to taste
• ▢ ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ▢ ½ teaspoon oregano
• ▢ 4 chicken breasts
• ▢ 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ▢ 1 cup chicken stock
• ▢ ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ▢ 1 cup heavy cream
• ▢ ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ▢ ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• ▢ basil leaves for garnish (optional)

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

 

• In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, salt, pepper, dried thyme and oregano. Whisk well.
  ⅓ cup flour, salt & pepper to taste, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon oregano
• Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour mixture.
  4 chicken breasts
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
  3 tablespoons olive oil
• Add the garlic cloves and cook for one minute.
  4 garlic cloves, minced
• Add the chicken stock and red pepper flakes and use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits.
  1 cup chicken stock, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Mix in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese and simmer for a few minutes.
  1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine.
  ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• Add the chicken back into the pan and allow to cook on low heat for a few minutes. Serve with fresh basil leaves if desired.
  basil leaves for garnish

Notes

• Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, or a combination of both. 
• Other seasonings that work well in this dish are paprika, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
• You can also use a combination of milk and cream instead of just heavy cream for a lighter sauce option.
• You can use diced tomatoes or crushed tomatoes for the tomato component of the sauce, just be sure to drain some of the liquid so your sauce isn't too watery.
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese works best. You can substitute pre-grated if needed however it will affect the flavor.
• You can garnish with dried basil if you don't have fresh on hand.
• If your chicken breasts are really thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness to help them cook evenly.
• This dish pairs well with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or warm crusty bread. I love to serve a side dish that can soak up the delicious sauce.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 402mg | Potassium: 988mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 837IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.

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