Key Takeaways:
- Ready in under 45 minutes with simple pantry ingredients
- Rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and Italian herbs
- Perfect for date nights or special occasions
- Makes 4 generous servings
Looking for a chicken dish that’ll make someone fall in love? This Marry Me Chicken Recipe combines tender chicken breasts with a rich, creamy sauce that’s sure to impress. Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner or just want to treat your family, this dish delivers restaurant-quality results right from your kitchen. If you enjoy this recipe, you might also love my chicken spaghetti recipe for another pasta-friendly favorite!
Time Requirements for Marry Me Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 4 people
Equipment Needed
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tongs
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Paper towels
- Meat thermometer (recommended)
Marry Me Chicken Recipe Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 large chicken breasts (about 6-8 oz each)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
For the Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil for garnish
Step-by-Step Marry Me Chicken Recipe Instructions
Preparation Phase (15 minutes)
- Prepare Your Workspace
- Clear and clean your counter space
- Gather all equipment and ingredients
- Set out measuring cups and spoons
- Preheat your skillet (don’t add oil yet)
- Prepare the Chicken (5-7 minutes)
- Remove chicken from packaging and place on paper towels
- Pat each breast completely dry on both sides (this is crucial for even browning)
- Check the thickness of each breast with your fingers
- If any breast is thicker than 1 inch:
- Place your hand flat on top of the breast
- Using a sharp knife, carefully slice parallel to the cutting board
- Open like a book to create two even pieces
- Repeat with any other thick pieces
- Make the Seasoned Flour (3 minutes)
- In a shallow dish (like a pie plate), add:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Use a fork or whisk to mix thoroughly until all spices are evenly distributed
- Set aside near your stove
- In a shallow dish (like a pie plate), add:
- Prep Other Ingredients (5 minutes)
- Mince garlic:
- Peel cloves
- Slice each clove lengthwise
- Make thin slices across
- Rock knife back and forth to mince finely
- Chop sun-dried tomatoes:
- If packed in oil, drain slightly
- Stack and slice into thin strips
- Cut strips into small pieces
- Measure out remaining ingredients and place near stove:
- Chicken broth in measuring cup
- Heavy cream in separate measuring cup
- Parmesan cheese in bowl
- Spices in small bowls
- Mince garlic:
Cooking Phase (25 minutes)
- Heat the Pan (3-4 minutes)
- Place large skillet on burner
- Set heat to medium-high
- Add 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Wait until oil shimmers slightly (but doesn’t smoke)
- Test readiness by dropping a tiny bit of flour – it should sizzle gently
- Coat and Cook Chicken (12-14 minutes)
- Take one chicken breast
- Place in seasoned flour mixture
- Flip and press gently to coat both sides
- Shake off excess flour
- Carefully place in hot pan (away from you to prevent oil splatter)
- Repeat with remaining pieces
- Don’t overcrowd; leave space between pieces
- If needed, cook in two batches
- Cook 5-7 minutes on first side until golden brown
- Don’t move chicken while cooking
- Check edge after 5 minutes by lifting slightly with tongs
- Flip carefully using tongs
- Cook additional 5-7 minutes on second side
- Remove to clean plate when done
- Tent loosely with foil to keep warm
If you’re looking for a simpler chicken recipe to practice your skills before trying this Marry Me Chicken Recipe, my chicken tenders and fries is a great starting point for beginners!
- Make the Sauce (8-10 minutes)
- Keep pan on medium-high heat
- Add minced garlic
- Stir constantly for 30 seconds
- Watch carefully to prevent burning
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- Stir for 1 minute to warm through
- Add chicken broth
- Pour slowly
- Use wooden spoon to scrape brown bits from pan bottom
- These bits add flavor to your sauce
- Add heavy cream
- Pour in a steady stream while stirring
- Add Parmesan cheese
- Sprinkle gradually while stirring
- Add thyme and red pepper flakes
- Reduce heat to medium-low
- Simmer 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly
- Sauce should coat back of spoon
- Draw finger across spoon; line should hold
- Finish the Dish (5-7 minutes)
- Return chicken to pan
- Place pieces in sauce carefully
- Spoon sauce over top
- Simmer 3-5 minutes until chicken is heated through
- Check temperature with meat thermometer
- Insert into thickest part
- Should read 165°F
- Let rest 5 minutes in sauce
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves
- Stack leaves
- Roll into cylinder
- Slice thinly for ribbons
- Return chicken to pan
Plating Instructions
- Choose warm plates or shallow bowls
- Place one chicken breast on each plate
- Spoon extra sauce over and around chicken
- Add basil garnish
- Serve immediately while hot

Troubleshooting Your Marry Me Chicken Recipe
- Sauce too thick? Add chicken broth, 2 tablespoons at a time
- Sauce too thin? Simmer longer or add more Parmesan
- Chicken not cooking evenly? Ensure uniform thickness before cooking
- Flour coating falling off? Pat chicken extra dry before dredging
Variations & Substitutions
- Replace heavy cream with half-and-half for lighter version
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts
- Swap sun-dried tomatoes for fresh cherry tomatoes
- Make it gluten-free with 1:1 gluten-free flour blend
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra vegetables
- For a sweet-savory twist, try my orange chicken recipe technique with this dish
Storage & Reheating
- Store leftovers in airtight container up to 3 days
- Reheat in skillet over medium-low heat
- Add splash of cream or broth when reheating
- Don’t microwave (sauce may separate)
Safety Notes
- Always check internal temperature reaches 165°F
- Don’t cross-contaminate raw chicken
- Cool completely before storing
- Discard if left at room temperature over 2 hours
Pro Tips for Perfect Marry Me Chicken Recipe
- Bring chicken to room temperature before cooking
- Use high-quality Parmesan cheese
- Don’t overcrowd the pan
- Let sauce reduce naturally for best flavor
- Serve immediately for best results
Remember: This Marry Me Chicken Recipe works best when chicken breasts are uniform in size. Take your time with the sauce – it’s the star of the show!