Description
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts smothered in a luscious sauce made with garlic, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian herbs. Perfect for an easy yet impressive weeknight dinner, it pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 medium boneless and skinless chicken breasts (cut in half horizontally to make 6 fillets)
- Salt and ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Sauce
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 3/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 ounces (150 grams) jarred sun-dried tomato strips, drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano or parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Season the chicken fillets with salt and pepper on both sides. Lightly dredge each piece in all-purpose flour, shaking off any excess to ensure an even coating without clumps.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil and melt butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the chicken fillets and cook for 6-8 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, cover with foil, and set aside to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic and deglaze: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping the brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spatula to incorporate all the flavor into the sauce.
- Make the creamy sauce: Reduce the heat to low-medium and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Gently simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, until it begins to thicken. Season the sauce with Italian seasoning, chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes: Mix in the drained sun-dried tomato strips and continue cooking the sauce for another couple of minutes until it thickens slightly and the tomatoes are heated through.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the seared chicken pieces to the skillet, spooning the sauce over them to coat evenly. Garnish with fresh basil and fresh oregano or parsley leaves.
- Serve: Serve your Marry Me Chicken hot over cooked pasta, steamed vegetables, or rice for a comforting and flavorful meal.
- Enjoy: Dig in and enjoy this rich, aromatic dish that is sure to impress at any dinner table.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcrowd the pan when searing the chicken to ensure a nice golden crust.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter version, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Use fresh herbs for a brighter flavor, or dried herbs if fresh are unavailable.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil provide extra richness, but drained dry tomatoes work well too.
- This dish pairs well with al dente pasta, creamy mashed potatoes, or simple steamed vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian-American
