Description
Marry Me Chicken is a luscious and creamy skillet dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts cooked in a savory sauce of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of red pepper flakes. This quick and comforting meal takes just 25 minutes to prepare, making it perfect for a flavorful weeknight dinner that feels indulgent yet effortless.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning evenly on both sides of the chicken breasts to enhance flavor before cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and cook for 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside to rest.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, taking care not to burn it.
- Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, cooking until they soften and release their flavors into the pan.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in chicken broth to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to incorporate them into the sauce.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to medium, then add heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes smooth.
- Add Spice: Sprinkle in red pepper flakes to add a touch of heat to the sauce, stirring to combine.
- Simmer Chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon the creamy sauce over them, cover the pan, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with fresh basil if desired, and serve the chicken smothered in the rich sun-dried tomato cream sauce.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for more flavor and moisture.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked through by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- This dish pairs well with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables to soak up the creamy sauce.
- You can reduce the red pepper flakes or omit them entirely for a milder dish.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove.
