Description
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful skillet dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce of heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. This easy-to-make recipe combines Italian seasoning with a touch of heat from red pepper flakes, delivering a comforting meal perfect for weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Combine Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and black pepper, then rub evenly over the chicken breasts to flavor the meat thoroughly.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate; it will finish cooking later in the sauce.
- Sauté the garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Deglaze the pan: Pour in the chicken stock while scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits. This adds flavor to your sauce.
- Create the creamy sauce: Reduce heat to medium, then stir in the heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Simmer the chicken in sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, and simmer uncovered for 10–12 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is cooked through.
- Add fresh basil and serve: Stir chopped fresh basil into the sauce just before serving. Plate the chicken with extra sauce spooned over. This dish goes wonderfully with pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- Sun-dried tomatoes add a sweet and tangy depth to the sauce, but you can substitute with roasted red peppers if unavailable.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your spice preference or omit for a milder dish.
- This dish pairs well with any starch like pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce.
- For lower fat, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, creamy chicken skillet, sun-dried tomato chicken, Italian chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner
