Marry Me Chicken

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Fall in love with Marry Me Chicken, a dish of tender sautéed chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.

White plate of Marry Me chicken.

Marry Me Chicken is a dish of tender sautéed chicken in a rich and creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. The recipe gained popularity after going viral on TikTok, where it was touted as so delicious, it will win the heart of anyone you cook it for. Using ready-to-cook thinly sliced chicken breasts, my version of Marry Me Chicken is quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion. While I can’t guarantee it’ll make someone profess their undying love to you, the balance of flavors in the dish does make it hard to resist!

Serve the saucy chicken with pasta, rice, garlic bread, or roasted potatoes and roasted broccoli. If you’d like to add some extra greens, simply toss a few handfuls of baby spinach into the sauce before adding the chicken back to the pan.

“Everything about this is perfect. It’s quick, easy, and beyond delicious!”

Cindy

What You’ll Need To Make Marry Me Chicken

ingredients to make marry me chicken
  • All-Purpose Flour: Used for coating the chicken, giving it a light crust that helps thicken the sauce.
  • Thin-Sliced Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Chosen for their quick cooking time and tender texture.
  • Onion and Garlic: These aromatics form the flavor base for the sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: Creates a rich, creamy sauce that envelops the chicken.
  • Chicken Broth: Adds savory depth, complementing the creaminess of the sauce.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Provide a tangy, concentrated tomato flavor that brightens the dish.
  • Tomato Paste: Intensifies the tomato flavor, giving the sauce a robust and rich dimension.
  • Oregano and Red Pepper Flakes: Add a touch of earthy flavor and a slight kick.
  • Grated Parmigiano Reggiano: Adds a salty, nutty element. For the best flavor, stick with authentic Parmigiano Reggiano—it’s richer and more complex than domestic Parmesan cheese.
  • Basil: Offers a burst of freshness and color.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-by-Step Instructions

Place the flour, ¾ teaspoon salt, and the black pepper in a ziplock bag and shake to combine.

flour, salt, and pepper in ziplock bag

Add the chicken to the bag; seal the bag tightly and shake to coat the chicken evenly. Set aside.

chicken in bag coated with flour and seasoning

Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the flour-dusted chicken in the pan, shaking off any excess first.

sautéing the chicken in oil

Cook, flipping once, until the chicken is lightly golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

sautéing the chicken on the second side

Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds more; do not brown.

onions and garlic in skillet

Add the cream, broth, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt; use a wooden spoon to scrape any brown bits from the pan into the liquid.

cream, chicken broth, tomato paste, seasoning, and sun-dried tomatoes in skillet

Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and gently boil, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.

sauce simmering in skillet

Stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano (or Pecorino Romano) and basil.

adding basil and cheese to sauce

Add the chicken back to the pan, along with any juices that accumulated on the plate; reduce the heat to low and simmer until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce thickens a bit more, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with more fresh basil, if desired, and serve.

chicken simmering with sauce in skillet

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular chicken breasts for this recipe?

Yes, but you’ll need to first cut them in half horizontally to form flat fillets, then pound them until they are between ⅛ and ¼-inch thick. (It’s important to cut them in half first; otherwise they’ll be enormous after pounding.)

Can I make Marry Me Chicken in advance?

Marry Me Chicken is best enjoyed fresh, but you can prepare it in advance if needed. Cook the chicken and sauce as directed, then cool and refrigerate. When ready to serve, gently reheat the chicken in the sauce over low heat, adding a little chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much during storage.

Is there a substitute for the heavy cream?

While heavy cream yields the richest and most flavorful sauce in Marry Me Chicken, there are alternatives for those seeking lighter or dairy-free options. Half-and-half can be used to achieve a lighter version of the sauce. For a dairy-free alternative, full-fat coconut milk offers a creamy texture, though it will alter the flavor profile.

White plate of Marry Me chicken.

Video Tutorial

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Marry Me Chicken

Fall in love with Marry Me Chicken, a dish of tender sautéed chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 thin-sliced chicken breasts (about 1¼ lbs; see note)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil, plus more for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the flour, ¾ teaspoon salt, and the black pepper in a ziplock bag and shake to combine. Add the chicken to the bag; seal the bag tightly and shake to coat the chicken evenly. Set aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the flour-dusted chicken in the pan and cook, flipping once, until the chicken is lightly golden and just cooked through, about 3 minutes total. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onions to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds more; do not brown. Add the cream, broth, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, sugar, and ¼ teaspoon salt; use a wooden spoon to scrape any brown bits from the pan into the liquid. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and gently boil, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano (or Pecorino Romano) and basil. Add the chicken back to the pan, along with any juices that accumulated on the plate; reduce the heat to low and simmer until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce thickens a bit more, 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle with more fresh basil, if desired, and serve.
  4. Note: I use pre-cut, ready-to-cook, thin-sliced chicken breasts for this recipe. If you'd like to use regular chicken breasts, you'll need to first cut them in half horizontally to form flat fillets, then pound them until they are between ⅛ and ¼-inch thick. (It's important to cut them in half first; otherwise they'll be enormous after pounding.)

Pair with

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (4 servings)
  • Calories: 527
  • Fat: 35 g
  • Saturated fat: 17 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 38 g
  • Sodium: 719 mg
  • Cholesterol: 191 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • A coworker suggested a viral Marry Me Chicken for dinner and after a little search this recipe came up. I really didn’t think it would surpass Gigi Hadid’s famous pasta but it was at the very least just as good! I could not believe how easy it was. Already had all the ingredients and dinner was on the table in less than an hour. Served with pappardelle pasta (a new favorite) and steamed broccoli. Will definitely make again!

    • — Dasha on March 8, 2023
    • Reply
  • As with all your recipes, this was a huge hit with the family! Loved it and it was easy too! I will definitely make this again!

    • — Jen M. on March 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • Great recipe! Many thanks:)
    I’m not even a mediocre cook and cannot do anything longer than 20 min, so this chicken stuff was ideal. I’ve just made it and it’s as delicious as easy

    • — Alina Puhozvereva on March 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • This was a huge hit with my family. Hubby said it was one of the best meals he’d had in a long time. Made it with angel hair and roasted broccoli, as suggested by another reviewer. This will definitely be going into the regular rotation! Love the recipes on your site, I’ve yet to have one fail me.

    • — Ashley on March 5, 2023
    • Reply
  • Even my picky eater gave this recipe a thumbs up. 😀 My husband said that the chicken melted in his mouth just like the chicken at his favourite restaurant. Thank you, Jenn.

    • — L Jensen on March 5, 2023
    • Reply
  • This was delicious! I had to stop my husband from literally eating the entire thing in one sitting. Definitely worthy of its name and I liked the addition of tomato paste, which I haven’t seen in some other recipes.

    • — Lizzy on March 4, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made this dish for my wife. She said she’d eat it once a week it was so good!

    • — Parker Snowe on March 1, 2023
    • Reply
  • another winner. kids agreed it’s better than chicken marsala.

    • — Bella Zamborini on February 28, 2023
    • Reply
  • I tried this recipe for the first time tonight, Jenn. I followed the directions precisely; it was outstanding! So many layers of flavour, from the onion/garlic, the seasonings, the chopped sun-dried tomatoes added such an exceptional taste! The fresh basil and the creaminess of the sauce itself, was absolutely delicious! My 37-year old son said “If you weren’t my Mom, I’d ask you to marry me!”, and at the time I forgot that the recipe is actually called Marry Me Chicken, so that made me giggle when I realized his intention! This will be on my rotation, not too often because it’s one of those special dishes, but certainly will be making this again! I give it a 10/10, Jenn!

    • — Lori Jankowski on February 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • Fantastic. Made exactly as written, served with roasted broccoli and angel hair pasta. My boyfriend asked me to text him my ring size so he doesn’t forget. 😉

    • — Allyson on February 22, 2023
    • Reply
    • LOL! 💗

      • — Jenn on February 22, 2023
      • Reply

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