This irresistible Marry Me Chicken creates tender, juicy chicken breasts that are smothered in a luscious creamy sauce, topped with sun-dried tomatoes, and seasoned with fragrant herbs. With each delectable bite, you’ll understand how this recipe got its name! Serve this chicken dish with rice, mashed potatoes or even a simple side salad and your taste buds (and your family!) will be thanking you!
This easy Marry Me Chicken recipe is loaded with so much flavor that no one would ever guess how simple it is! It’s probably why it has taken social media by storm. Be careful who you make this delicious dish for though or you might end up hearing wedding bells.
With just a handful of simple ingredients and a few effortless steps, this dish will impress you with it’s delicious taste and textures. Tender chicken breasts are seared to perfection over medium-high heat and bursts with flavor when you add the cream sauce and sun-dried tomatoes.
Marry Me Chicken is quick enough on a busy weeknight, but impressive enough for a romantic meal for two or even for guests that you are entertaining.
If you want something more hands off, try our Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken. It has all the flavor of this classic recipe, but is made hands off in the slow cooker!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Quick! – It’s so quick that you need to prepare all of your ingredients and measurements before you begin cooking.
- Easy – I don’t think it gets much easier than dump-and-go.
- Family-friendly – Kids and adults alike can’t get enough of this recipe!
- Versatile– I like to serve Marry Me Chicken with a side of potatoes, but you can keep it lighter by serving over cauliflower rice. This chicken also makes delicious sliders – just top Hawaiian rolls with the shredded chicken.
- Impressive – I love making this chicken when we have guests. It is packed with so much flavor and they always ask for the recipe before leaving. That’s a win!
Recipe Notes
This Marry Me Chicken recipe is as simple as promised! Just 30 minutes for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use when making this recipe to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Boneless skinless chicken breast – chicken thighs can also be used.
- Flour, Garlic powder and salt – these are necessary to coat the chicken with.
- Pepper – Freshly ground pepper delivers the best flavor.
- Italian seasoning – You can also use store bought, but mine is great to have on hand.
- Cooking oil – olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil
- Garlic – Garlic is important because it brings a robust flavor to the final sauce.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – I personally like to use the sun dried tomatoes packed in oil with Italian herbs. The sun-dried tomatoes that come in a dry packet will also work. *See note at bottom of recipe card*
- Heavy cream – Heavy cream creates the best sauce, but if you need to lighten it up, you can use half and half.
- Chicken broth or dry white wine
- Parmesan – freshly grated
- Basil or parsley – these are both optional. I love using fresh basil to garnish my chicken.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Marry Me Chicken.
In a hot oiled skillet lay seasoned chicken down in a single layer.
Cook chicken breasts for 3-4 minutes on one side. Flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the chicken breast is cooked through.
Remove chicken from pan and add seasonings to make the cream sauce.
Add cooked chicken breasts back into the sauce and simmer to the desired thickness.
Recipe Tips
- Chicken – Prepare your chicken breasts by either pounding them thin or butterflying them. This is extra important because it helps keep the chicken nice and juicy. Then dredge them in the flour mixture.
- Make it HOT! – Do not add chicken to cold oil. BEFORE you place your chicken into the skillet, add your oil to the pan and get it hot. Then, place the chicken in.
- Large Skillet – Make sure you have a skillet that is large enough so that your chicken has space to breathe. You can always do multiple batches of chicken if you need to. If there is space for the chicken, you can insure that moisture won’t get trapped and you will get a nice sear on your chicken.
- Deglaze – After you have flash cooked your garlic for 30-60 seconds, add your broth (or wine) to deglaze the pan.
- Sauce– Additional flour can help thicken the sauce.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep Ahead – Prepare and measure as much as possible either the night or morning before. Season the flour with salt, pepper, garlic and Italian seasoning, then store it in a bowl that’s the right size for dredging your chicken. Butterfly or pound your chicken thin, and even pre-measure the liquids so everything is ready to go. You’ll have dinner in a flash!
- Buy julienned sun-dried tomatoes – You won’t have to slice anything and you’ll save yourself from having to clean up an oily mess afterwards!
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Kick it up – Spice it up by adding red pepper flakes.
- Citrus Zest – Enhance the flavor by adding some citrus zest to the sauce. Lemon or orange can provide a refreshing and tangy twist. Grate the zest of the citrus fruit and stir it into directly into the sauce.
- Veggie Boost – Sliced mushrooms can be added at the beginning of the recipe, or you can stir coarsely chopped baby spinach in at the end until it wilts.
- Capers or artichoke hearts – Add these straight into the sauce. These will make the dish taste even more Mediterranean and adds a unique and savory flavor.
- Nutty Crunch – Sprinkle some toasted nuts, such as almonds or pine nuts, over the chicken before serving.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken
Since this dish has the classic flavors of the Mediterranean, it will pair well with many of your favorite richly flavored side dishes. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes – This is my favorite side dish to go along with Marry Me Chicken.
- Brown Butter Broccoli – My family says this is their favorite way to eat broccoli!
- Lemon Rice – Or try using cauliflower rice to keep your dinner low-carb.
- Garlic Roasted Vegetables – Classic with a little bit of crispness in the bite.
- Easy Caprese Salad – Make this super simple balsamic vinaigrette or use a premade one, cut the tomatoes and mozzarella, and your work is done!
- Pasta – Serve Marry Me Chicken alongside an angel hair or spaghetti pasta.
- Hawaiian Rolls – This chicken makes the yummiest sandwiches. Just add to a Hawaiian roll!
You can choose one or add a few sides to make a wholesome, well rounded dinner.
Marry Me Chicken Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making Marry Me Chicken, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Chicken Wraps or Sandwiches – Warm the chicken, and then layer it with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and any other desired toppings. Wrap it in a tortilla or place it between bread slices or even pita bread for a quick and tasty meal.
- Marry Me Chicken Salad – Chop the leftover chicken into bite-sized pieces and use it as the protein in a salad. Mix it with your favorite salad greens, such as romaine or spinach. Add some sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, avocado, and a light dressing for a refreshing and satisfying chicken salad.
- Marry Me Chicken Pasta – Cut the leftover chicken and toss it with cooked pasta of your choice. Add some vegetables like peas, broccoli, or cherry tomatoes for extra freshness. Warm the Marry Me sauce and combine it with the pasta and chicken for a creamy and flavorful pasta dish.
More Easy Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Spinach Pesto Baked Chicken
- Creamy Chicken Piccata
- Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Bake
- Baked Italian Chicken
Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut or pounded thin, about 6 pieces
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, divided
- 1/4 cup cooking oil, like olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil
For the sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, julianned (see note)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup chicken broth, or dry white wine
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan, plus more for garnish
Garnish
- chopped basil or parsley
Instructions
- Combine the flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and half of the Italian seasoning and mix to combine.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture to coat on all sides.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat with half the oil. Once hot add the chicken in a single layer, and cook 3-4 minutes, flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the chicken breast is cooked through (165˚F internal temperature.) Add remaining oil as needed if pan starts to get dry. Remove from pan and set aside.Note: There will likely be too much chicken to cook all of it at once in a single layer. I usually do two batches of chicken to cook it all.
- Add the pressed garlic to the pan and cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the chicken broth or white wine to the pan to deglaze and stir scrapping any browned bits from the bottom. Reduce heat to low.Slowly stir in the cream and remaining Italian seasoning and bring the mixture to a simmer to thicken.
- Stir in the sun dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese and then add the chicken back into the sauce and simmer to the desired thickness.
- Remove from heat and garnish with freshly chopped herbs. Enjoy!
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