Marry Me Chicken always guarantees a second date! This creamy chicken dinner features mouthwatering ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and a medley of seasonings that will have you ringing wedding bells! It’s such an easy to make dinner and always satisfies.

Sliced chicken is placed in a skillet filled with a creamy sauce.


This Marry Me Chicken recipe features inexpensive ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry right now! It’s so creamy, flavorful, and is hearty as can be. Chicken breasts are first pan seared to get the best golden brown skin, then they’re cooked all the way through to juicy and tender perfection in a mix of chicken stock, tomatoes, heavy cream and more.

This recipe is similar in flavor to my Tuscan Chicken Pasta but slightly different. Serving your chicken breasts over some pasta soaked up all the creamy sun-dried tomatoe sauce so it doesn’t go to waste. The rest of the sauce on your plate can be enjoyed with a side of garlic bread.

Plus, the chicken breasts and pasta make sure that no one is leaving that table still hungry for more, no matter how badly they may be craving seconds! While I love this chicken served over spaghetti noodles, any pasta of your choice works fabulously including my favorite buttered noodles.

Wonder why it’s called Marry Me Chicken? Because it’s just so good you’ll want to marry it (or the person who made it)! From the rich and creamy sauce to the tender, juicy, flavorful chicken, there’s a whole lot to love in every bite of this easy to make dish. This easy chicken recipe could definitely elicit a marriage proposal.

Ingredients You Will Need and Substitutions

  • Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are my go-to because they’re always in my freezer. You can substitute with bone in chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are much more flavorful but chicken breast is a leaner choice.
  • Garlic – I use 3-5 fresh garlic cloves depending on my mood. Measure your garlic with your heart, here. There are no rules.
  • Tomato Pasta – I love using tomato paste to build flavor in sauces. Be sure to cook the tomato paste for a few minutes to enhance the flavor profile.
  • Chicken Stock – Homemade chicken stock offers rich flavor but you can use store bought, chicken broth or even vegetable stock.
  • Cream – Heavy cream makes the sauce thick and rich. You can cut the calories a bit by using Half and half or whole milk.
  • Cheese – Parmesan cheese adds intense saltiness without tasting salty. Be sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese and not the stuff in a can.
  • Tomatoes – Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil are meaty and soft. Plus, you can use the sundried tomato oil to cook the chicken instead of olive oil. Building layers of flavor here!
  • Seasoning – Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh basil, fresh parsley, kosher salt and black pepper infuse the sauce with herbaceousness.
  • Pasta – You can skip the pasta or use your favorite pasta to make Marry Me Chicken Pasta which is like a one-pan dinner all on it’s own.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Several chicken breasts are placed in a full skillet.

How to Make Marry Me Chicken

Ready to meet your new favorite easy chicken dinner? Here’s how to make my version of Marry Me chicken in no time at all!

  1. Prepare the chicken. Pat the chicken breasts dry on all sides with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. (If using large chicken breast, slice them in half horizontally to create two chicken cutlets for each breast.)
  2. Sear the chicken. Heat the oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer the chicken breasts to a plate and keep warm with a loose tent of foil.
  3. Make the sauce. Lower the temperature to medium heat. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, then stir in the tomato paste and keep cooking for another 30 seconds. Stir in the chicken stock and deglaze scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. (Sometimes I’ll also use white wine to deglaze the pan, 1/4 cup will be enough.) Then, stir in the heavy cream, half of the cheese, sundried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, half of the red pepper flakes, and more salt and pepper.
  4. Simmer the chicken. Return the seared chicken to the pan. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cook the chicken until the internal temperature on a meat thermometer reads 165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breast. This should only take about 5 minutes.
  5. Slice and serve! Slice the chicken breasts across the grain. Arrange the chicken over some cooked pasta, top with the flavorful sauce, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Enjoy!
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A spoon has drizzled cream sauce all over plated chicken.

Why is it Called Marry Me Chicken?

Marry Me Chicken got it’s name, allegedly, by a group of magazine editors that were testing the recipe. One was so smitten with the chicken they claimed it was so good they wanted to marry it….and that’s how it got it’s name.

Even if the story isn’t true, I agree with that sentiment because it’s just that good.

How to Store Leftovers and Reheat Marry Me Chicken

In an airtight container in the fridge, leftover Marry Me Chicken will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Just make sure it’s totally cooled to room temperature prior to storing. While it reheats just fine in the microwave, leftover chicken is even better when reheated back in the skillet over medium until warmed through.

The Best Sides for Marry Me Chicken

While pasta is my favorite base of choice for this marry me chicken recipe, you can always swap it out for some Mashed Potatoes. Or, you can keep things low-carb with some easy to make Cauliflower Rice!

To really keep things well-rounded, add some freshness to your plate with sides like Garlic Parmesan Baked Asparagus, Sautéed Broccoli Rabe, or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

Chicken is plated and garnished with herbs.

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Sliced chicken is placed in a skillet filled with a creamy sauce.

Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Recipe

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Pan Seared Chicken Breast in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, this easy Marry Me Chicken is sure to please anyone that sinks their teeth into it. Ready in minutes, it's a great weeknight dinner option.
5 from 2 votes
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Ingredients

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese
  • 7 ounce jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped , (you can use this oil in place of the olive oil in the recipe for added flavor.)
  • 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1/4 cup chopped basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • Cooked pasta, for serving

Equipment

  • 1 skillet

Instructions 

  • Pat the chicken dry and season both sides of the breasts with half the salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pan and cook until golden brown, approximately 4-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook the opposite side until golden brown. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
  • Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the chicken stock and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the heavy cream, 1/2 the cheese, tomatoes, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and the remaining salt and pepper, stirring until combined.
  • Return the chicken to the pan and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat low and cook until the chicken is cooked through and registers 165˚F on an instant read thermometer, approximately 5 minutes.
  • Slice the chicken breasts across the grain and serve with the sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and red pepper flakes.
  • Serve over pasta, if desired.

Notes

Marry Me Chicken is best served soon after cooking.
Calories: 497kcal, Carbohydrates: 25g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 150mg, Sodium: 1660mg, Potassium: 1757mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 1717IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 257mg, Iron: 4mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American