Marry Me Chicken

This creamy, flavorful chicken dish combines tender chicken breasts with a rich Parmesan cream sauce, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s delicious served over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or with crusty bread.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Chicken

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 6 chicken thighs)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour (optional, for a light crust)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter

Cream Sauce

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• ¾ cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained)
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Garnish

• Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
• Extra grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. Season the chicken. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Lightly coat with flour if using.
2. Sear the chicken. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden. Remove to a plate (it doesn’t have to be fully cooked yet).
3. Cook the garlic. Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pan. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
5. Make the sauce. Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and thyme. Simmer for 3–5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
6. Finish the chicken. Return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, cover, and simmer for 8–10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
7. Serve. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan.

Serving Suggestions

• Fettuccine or linguine
• Mashed potatoes
• Steamed rice
• Buttered egg noodles
• Garlic bread
• Roasted asparagus, broccoli, or green beans

Storage

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat: Warm gently over low heat, adding a splash of cream or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened.

Tips for Success

• Chicken thighs stay especially juicy if you prefer dark meat.
• Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
• For a richer sauce, add an extra ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Stir in a handful of fresh spinach during the last few minutes of cooking for extra color and nutrition.