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

  • Thank you, Jenn, for such a delicious recipe. It was easy to prepare and the results were amazing. I did add carrots ( because I add carrots to everything!) after steaming them briefly and added the carrot water to the stock total. Thank you for another family favorite.

    • — Susan on August 2, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn! I made this tonight and it was delicious! Thank you. I’d like to lighten it up a little. Would it work and taste good to make it like your chicken Marsala with ⅔ cup broth, ⅔ cup cream and ⅔ cup sherry or some other wine you suggest? I realize the sauce might be a little thinner or need more time simmering but would it still taste good? Thanks so much for your thoughts!

    • — Stephanie on July 17, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Stephanie, It will work but the sauce will be thinner as you mentioned. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it that way!

      • — Jenn on July 18, 2024
      • Reply
  • This was phenomenal! It was beyond all expectations!

    • — Roxie Ashmore on July 13, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hey Jenn,

    We don’t have those thinly sliced chicken breast cutlets here. To save time, can I cook it with CHICKEN THIGHS instead? Your recipes are often bullet proof haha
    Thank you 🙂

    • — Patrick on June 13, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Patrick, I don’t recommend chicken thighs — because of the additional fat they have, they’d make the sauce too greasy. You can use chicken breasts and thinly slice them yourself. Chicken tenders would also work.

      • — Jenn on June 13, 2024
      • Reply
  • OMG man this was so DAMN DELISH….made it exact to recipe except did 6 cutlets instead of four and there was plenty of sauce!

    • — Kara on June 2, 2024
    • Reply
  • I made this dish and it was FIRE! (shout out to Pookie and Jett) 🙂
    I will be making this every week. It was a huge hit and fabulous on mashed potatoes. Thank you for this outstanding recipe!

    • — Alina Hussey on April 7, 2024
    • Reply
  • This recipe has wonderful flavors. My husband and I both loved it. I am wondering if anyone had to reduce the sauce for longer than 5 minutes? My sauce was not as thick as the picture after boiling on medium heat for about 7 minutes. I served it anyway because I didn’t want the veg & potato to be over cooked. Tasted terrific, but would have liked the sauce to be thicker. I followed the recipe exactly (always do!). Thanks for the great recipe, Jen, I plan to make it again soon.

    • — Susan on March 31, 2024
    • Reply
  • You are amazing. My family loved this dish, along with Chicken Marsala. I felt like I was having dinner at an Italian restaurant, the chicken was tender and the sauce was superb. Thank you again for sharing those wonderful recipes.

    • — Grace on March 19, 2024
    • Reply
  • OMFG!!! excuse my language, but this was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for a while now, and I’m not usually a big sun dried tomato person but my daughter is and it was just perfectly balanced and the flavor was restaurant quality…which is what my daughter said! lol I made your Caesar dressing recipe and served it with a Caesar salad and it was truly OUTSTADNING!!! another winning recipe, not surprised! 🙂

    • — Lana Susko on March 12, 2024
    • Reply
  • Absolutely amazing! I will also make this wonderful sauce for grilled chicken or pork chops or pork tenderloin. It was that good!

    • — Carol Landgraff on March 3, 2024
    • Reply

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