Description
Marry Me Chicken is a rich and creamy skillet dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken breasts in a luscious sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce. Perfectly paired with your favorite pasta, this recipe promises a romantic, restaurant-quality dinner that’s easy to make at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
Sauce
- 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
Pasta
- 1 lb of your favorite pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or penne work well)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. In a shallow dish, mix the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Dredge each chicken piece in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour to ensure even coating.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C). Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce – Shallots and Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallots and cook until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, careful not to burn.
- Deglaze with Chicken Broth: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to incorporate flavor. Bring to a simmer and reduce slightly for 2-3 minutes.
- Add Cream and Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in heavy cream, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Parmesan Cheese: Add grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, coating evenly in the sauce. Allow to simmer for a few minutes to warm the chicken through. Stir in chopped fresh basil just before removing from heat.
- Cook the Pasta: Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions in generously salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce and Serve: Add drained pasta to the skillet with chicken and sauce. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired sauce consistency. Serve immediately garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.
Notes
- Be sure to not overcrowd the pan when searing the chicken; work in batches to achieve a nice golden crust.
- Using oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes adds extra flavor and richness to the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce thickness and help it cling to the pasta better.
- Feel free to add red pepper flakes for a subtle spicy kick or omit for mild flavor.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad and a glass of white wine for a romantic dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, creamy chicken recipe, sun-dried tomato chicken, chicken pasta, romantic dinner recipe, easy chicken dinner
