Description
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful skillet dish featuring juicy seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. This elegant and comforting dinner recipe delivers layers of savory taste and is garnished with fresh basil for a hint of brightness.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Ensure they are of uniform size for even cooking)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste (optional)
- Chili flakes, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor and ensure a tasty crust during searing.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until they develop a golden brown crust and are fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté garlic: Lower the heat to medium, add minced garlic to the same skillet, and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes: Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, cooking them alongside the garlic for an additional minute to release their flavor.
- Create the sauce: Pour heavy cream into the skillet, stirring well to combine and to scrape up any flavorful browned bits stuck to the pan.
- Season the sauce: Sprinkle in Italian seasoning and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Melt the cheese: Stir grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until it melts completely and creates a creamy texture.
- Return chicken to skillet: Nestle the seared chicken breasts back into the sauce, spooning the sauce over them. Let everything simmer together for 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors and reheat the chicken.
- Finish and garnish: Remove from heat and garnish the dish with fresh basil leaves for a burst of herbal freshness.
- Serve: Plate the chicken with generous spoonfuls of the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, adding freshly cracked black pepper or chili flakes if desired for extra heat.
Notes
- For best results, use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for deeper flavor and softer texture.
- Ensure chicken breasts are similar in size for even cooking and to avoid over or undercooking.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less rich.
- This dish pairs well with pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
- Adjust seasoning and chili flakes according to your spice preference.
