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 chicken with garlic bread 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.

“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. If you’d like to use regular breasts, cut them in half horizontally to form flat fillets, then pound them until they are between ⅛ and ¼-inch thick.
  • Onion and Garlic: These aromatics form the flavor base for the sauce.
  • Heavy Cream: Creates a rich, creamy sauce that envelops the chicken. While heavy cream yields the best results, half-and-half can be used for a lighter version.
  • 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.
  • 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: Lends 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 for 30 seconds more.

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.

chicken simmering with sauce in skillet

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

  • Hi Jen,
    Can I substitute with dried basil instead of fresh? Thank you.

    • — Sheila Avinante on October 26, 2024
    • Reply
    • Hi Sheila, I really don’t like dried basil, so if possible I’d get fresh. If not, you’d need 1 tablespoon dried.

  • You did it again – my husband’s comment when trying the Marry Me Chicken. I corrected him that all credit goes of course to you, Jenn. We finished it off with your Creme brûlée. Equally yummie. Will be cooking this again and again. Absolutely loved both recipes.

    • — Renata on October 24, 2024
    • Reply
  • Of all the ‘best’ recipes out there, this one is really the best. The addition if the tomato paste add is necessary for the depth of flavor. I’ve made variations of this-but this recipe is excellent!,

    • — Lorna Hubbell Rahanian on October 24, 2024
    • Reply
  • This was excellent. It was very similar to your vodka sauce that my family also loves. I am going to use the sauce for other proteins as well, maybe shrimp even. Thank you for another wonderful recipe.

    • — Suzan on October 23, 2024
    • Reply
  • Absolutely love this recipe.

    • — Linda on October 20, 2024
    • Reply
  • This was fabulous! Wondering if the recipe could be doubled and still have the same quality ?

    • — Joyce on October 15, 2024
    • Reply
    • Glad you liked it! I think you can double it and get good results. Just keep in mind that the sauce will likely need to simmer a bit longer to get to the right thickness.

  • My daughter just made this…heaven on a plate, she added mushrooms (shitake and baby bella) and used dried thyme. I would have liked more sauce. So easy and so good. OUTSTANDING recipe

    • — Carol on October 9, 2024
    • Reply
  • Fabulous mild tomato taste very popular in our house

    • — Vicki on September 12, 2024
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn,
    I plan on making Marry Me Chicken tomorrow night for company. I happened to find Organic Lemon Torchietti Pasta Imported from Italy at Trader Joe’s yesterday, would this work as a compliment to the dish?

    • — Phyllis on September 10, 2024
    • Reply
    • Definitely! Hope everyone enjoys. 😊

      • Thank you Jenn, made it last night and it was a big hit!
        Started dinner with butter baby lettuce served with pears, feta cheese and pistachios and Poppy Seed dressing. I did serve it with the Lemon pasta and everyone enjoyed the side. Also with a couple of Ciabatta Demi-Baguettes. So yummy! Love, love all your recipes. I also had forgotten how easy it was to make another plus.

        • — Phyllis on September 12, 2024
        • Reply
        • Sounds like a delicious meal – I’m sure your guests left happy and full!

  • Our family absolutely loves this recipe, it has to go on repeat. We often have chicken tenders more than breasts and I just pound them following the instructions and everything else I do exactly as stated! I have also used cassava flour as a gluten free alternative to coating the chicken with great results too.

    • — Charity H. on August 12, 2024
    • Reply

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