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GET IT NOWI Dream About This Marry Me Chicken
When you want something that feels fancy but doesn’t take much effort, this is the recipe. I’ve made a lot of skillet chicken over the years, but this marry me chicken recipe is one of those dishes that just hits different — rich, flavorful, and somehow both comforting and a little romantic. I actually based it on my sun-dried tomato chicken, but swapped the thickener for parmesan… and wow. Here’s why I think you’ll love it too:
- That luscious sauce – The creamy combo of sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, garlic, and Italian spices is savory, a little sweet, and loaded with flavor in every bite.
- Quick, easy, and no oven required – It’s all made in one skillet, no baking needed, and the sauce thickens on its own without any flour. Plus, you can have it on the table in just 30 minutes!
- Perfect for date night – When you don’t want to make fancy filet mignon or lobster tails for your date, try this chicken instead. I think you’ll both fall in love with this recipe! It’s even great for meal prep if you’re planning ahead.
And yes, my husband did say it might be his favorite chicken dish yet… guess he’d marry me all over again? 😉 Make it with me for that someone in your life! (And then, don’t miss my marry me chicken soup with similar flavors.)
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my easy marry me chicken recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but thighs work too if that’s what you’ve got. Just know the cook time might be a little different.
- Seasonings – I kept it simple with sea salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and fresh basil. Sometimes I throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
- Olive Oil – This is what I used to sauté the chicken, but avocado oil or any neutral one works just as well.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic gives the best flavor, but if I’m in a rush, I’ll grab the jarred kind (about a teaspoon does the trick).
- Chicken Broth – I usually use my homemade broth, but store-bought works too — just go for a low-sodium one so the sauce doesn’t get too salty. Bone broth is a great option if you want a richer flavor.
- Heavy Cream – This makes the sauce super creamy. If you need a dairy-free swap, try coconut cream or full-fat canned coconut milk — just know the flavor will be a little different.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes – I made mine, but store-bought is totally fine. Look for the kind packed in oil, then drain and slice ’em up.
- Parmesan Cheese – I used the shaker-can stuff for convenience, but if you have time, fresh grated parmesan tastes even better.
How To Make Marry Me Chicken
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Season the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels (this helps it brown better!), then season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Sear the chicken. Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and sear it on both sides until it’s golden and cooked through. Once it’s done, take it out of the pan, cover it with foil, and set it aside to stay warm.
- Saute garlic. Toss the garlic into the skillet (add a little oil if needed) and cook for a minute until it smells amazing.
- Make the sauce. Add the broth, cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Scrape up the browned bits, then bring to a gentle boil. Simmer until it reduces, then lower the heat, stir in the parmesan, and let it melt into a creamy sauce. Season to taste.
- Bring it all together. Add the chicken back in and spoon the sauce over the top. Warm it through for a couple minutes. I like to finish this marry me chicken recipe with some fresh basil before serving.
My Recipe Tips
- I like to butterfly the chicken first. Just slice the breasts in half to make cutlets. They cook faster and more evenly that way! You’ll need to brown them in batches, but it’s totally worth it.
- Scrape up the brown bits. After searing the chicken, use a wooden spoon to get all those golden bits off the bottom — they melt into the sauce and add major flavor.
- Add parmesan off the heat. If the pan’s too hot, the cheese can clump. I like to turn the heat down first so it melts in smoothly.
- Make sure your chicken is done. It should hit 165 degrees F in the thickest part. I always use this meat thermometer because it’s fast, foolproof, and way better than playing the guessing game.
Marry Me Chicken
You’ll fall in love with this marry me chicken recipe — tender chicken simmered in a rich, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and full of flavor.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season them on both sides with sea salt and black pepper.
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 4-8 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F (74 degrees C)). Time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken and whether it's whole or cut into strips.
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Remove the chicken from the pan, cover with foil to keep warm, and set aside.
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Add the minced garlic to the skillet (add a little more oil if it's dry). Cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
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Add the broth, cream, sun dried tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Increase heat to bring to a gentle boil, then simmer for 7-8 minutes, until the volume is reduced by about half and a thin sauce forms.
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Reduce heat to low. Stir the grated parmesan cheese, until thickened. Adjust salt and pepper to taste if needed.
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Add the chicken back to the pan and spoon the sauce over it. If needed, cook for 1-2 minutes to warm up the chicken.
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Top "marry me chicken" with basil ribbons before serving.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you help you cook the chicken evenly, build more flavor into the sauce, and get that perfectly creamy finish without any clumps.
- Serving ideas: You definitely want a side to soak up all that luxurious sauce. See my serving ideas above!
- Store: Keep leftover marry me chicken in an airtight container in the fridge — they’ll keep for 1–2 days.
- Reheat: Warm it in a 350 degree F oven for about 10 minutes, or use the microwave in short bursts until heated through.
- Freeze: Freeze in a sealed container or bag for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the fridge before reheating.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Marry Me Chicken
Serving Ideas
Not sure what to serve with this marry me chicken recipe? I’ve got you — here are some of my favorite easy sides to round out the meal:
- Veggies – I usually go for roasted asparagus or cauliflower, but broccoli or any mix of oven-roasted veggies would work great too.
- Potatoes – Mashed potatoes are a classic, but I usually go for lighter picks like cauliflower mash, roasted rutabaga, or even fried radishes — they all soak up that creamy sauce perfectly.
- Noodles or rice – Zucchini noodles or shirataki noodles are my go-tos, but regular pasta, spaghetti squash or rice (I like cauliflower rice) totally work if that’s more your style.
46 Comments
Chris
1Next time I will make twice the sauce – the family loved it! I think my husband licked the pan!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad your family loved it, Chris! Thank you.
Patsy
0I make this for my Husband, he loves it. I love b/c its so easy! It doesn’t take alot of time. Thank you!
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s great to hear, Patsy! Sounds like your husband’s a big fan and I love that it’s such a quick, no-fuss recipe for you, too.
Sarah Holsinger
0This chicken recipe was a big hit for my family of 6. They all asked me to add this recipe to our regular meal rotation. So flavorful and fairly simple.
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s wonderful to hear, Sarah! I love that your whole family enjoyed it and that it’s going into your regular rotation, such a great compliment.
Maria
0I love this chicken!!
Wholesome Yum D
0So glad to hear that, Maria!
Holly
0Made this for dinner tonight. It was amazing!!!!! I have heard of marry me chicken but haven’t made it before. Decide to try it. Glad we did. My husband and kids really enjoyed it. My husband said it has really great flavors. Will defining make this again.
Wholesome Yum D
0Thanks so much for sharing, Holly! I love that you finally tried it and it lived up to the hype. So glad your husband and kids enjoyed it too!
Melissa
0Can you explain how you break down the carb count per serving? In this recipe it’s the garlic and sundried tomatoes that are the carbs? Thank you, Melissa
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Melissa, I cover how we calculate in my nutrition policy. The carbohydrates in this recipe come mainly from the cream and sun-dried tomatoes.
Leona
0Awesome dish, definitely going to be a repeat dish at my house. Thanks Maya for all the great recipes!!! 👍 😋
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Leona! Hope you make it again soon.
Staci Wickard
0This is my favorite chicken recipe! It is absolutely delicious and company worthy. I’m the only keto person in my family but everyone loved it and my daughter used the last of the amazing sauce over steamed cauliflower. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!
I wouldn’t change a thing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Awww, that means a lot, Staci! Thank you.
Patsy
0My husband loves this soup! I’ve made it 3x & will continue to make it. Thank you for such a delicious & easy meal!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you enjoyed one of my recipes, Patsy! Just FYI, the comment where you left this is not for soup, but would love to hear which soup you made.
Noel
0As always Maya, my comments are the same on what a wonderful recipe you published again! I reviewed a couple different recipes and as always, use yours!! 😊
I did cook chicken breast in my instant pot and after making the sauce moved the chicken into that stove top skillet. I did double the sauce since I had extra chicken and also I was putting it over fettuccine wanted the extra creamy sauce to blend with the pasta. I think angel hair would be better, although my family like it with fettuccine. My husband said, we can add this one to our rotation. Thanks for all the wonderful recipes you publish! ❤️
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much for the kind words, Noel! Really appreciate it. I’m so glad you and your husband liked this marry me chicken!
Amy
0YUM!!! First time I made this because I’ve seen so many recipes of Marry Me Chicken posted. We love it!!! Thank you Maya! I love your cookbooks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much, Amy! That means a lot that you love my books. I’m so happy you liked this recipe, too!
j.dumoulin
0Absolutely awesome!
Jeannette
0This was absolutely delish! I cut the recipe in 1/2 because there is only the two of us. But it was so delishous I wished I had made more for leftovers.Thanks Maya for very good food.
Georganna
0Excellent choice. I followed the recipe times and the chicken turned out so tender and moist (I usually dry chicken out when I cook it like this). The only suggestion would be to add more to the sauce.
Kim
0This is ridiculously good! This is the third time I’ve made it and still love it!
darlene
0The sauce for this chicken was amazing. Taste like something from a fine dining restaurant.
I overcooked the chicken, so next time I will be more careful. Wonder if this could be used with already cooked/chopped chicken? Wouldn’t be as pretty, but the taste should still be just as good.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked the sauce, Darlene! Yes, the cook time for the chicken can vary a bit depending on your stove, your pan, and the size of the pieces. Yes, I think you could do it with already cooked chicken, too.
Lisa w
0This was a hit in my house.
Kim
0Can’t wait to make this again! The sauce was delicious!
Lisa Collum
0I love this recipe. It is full of flavor and “marries” well with the chicken. The sundried tomatoes and parmesan blend beautifully to elevate this dish. If you haven’t tried this one yet I think you will love it. Thank you, Maya, for another wonderful recipe!
Hope
0This was amazing!!! My picky kid even loves it!!
Terri
0Delicious and easy to cook. Family love it.
Terri
0Absolutely delicious. Everyone was asking for receipt. Thank you.
Kelly
0Definitely recommend making this. This will be my go-to when I make a meal for someone, hands-down. I made a few adjustments that I think are more personal preference rather than the recipe needing adjustments. I almost doubled the cheese. I added red pepper flakes. I used a third clove of garlic (I used the pre-portioned frozen minced garlic so that could have affected strength).
In addition, after letting the sauce reduce and adding the chicken back in, with plans to add pasta (IMO, penne is the only pasta to use here), I felt like there was not enough sauce. I made another batch of sauce in a separate pan and added it to the finished chicken and sauce. I tasted both sauces side by side and they were pretty similar.
SHANNA
0This Marry Me Chicken turned out perfect! Easy to make and came together fast! I will be making this again.
Teresa Tudor
0This was absolutely delicious! We will be making this again and again!!
Teresa
0This was absolutely delicious! Even reheated the next day!
Chief
0WOW! Made this today and it was so easy and tasty. I served it with steamed broccoli. Will double the sauce next time to serve over whole wheat noodles.
Meg
0There is rarely a chicken that the whole family enjoys! And this is it! My teenagers asked me to make it again this week. Delicious!
Yami
0OMG! I made this the other night and my family kept saying how delicious it was over and over. I will definitely keep it in the rotation for sure. Thank you for the delicious recipes.
Elizabeth Swoish
0This was such a delicious recipe! I used half dry white wine and half chicken broth… SO GOOD! It will be on my weekly dinner list.
Brooke
0This was super duper! I was afraid it would be heavy and too decadent but it was not heavy at all. It felt like a fancy meal at a restaurant. This one is a keeper!
Gina
0Totally understand where this dish got its name – absolutely addicting!
Angela
0I made this for the first time and the chicken was delicious and so juicy. I will make again!
Lisa
0The sauce for this chicken tasted amazing. So creamy and the sun-dried tomatoes added a nice texture.