Description
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful skillet chicken dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Garnished with fresh basil and optional chili flakes, this easy one-pan meal is perfect for a comforting yet elegant dinner that yields four generous servings.
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 Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides to ensure even flavor throughout the meat.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the same skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, ensuring not to burn the garlic.
- Add Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes with the garlic and cook for an additional minute to meld the flavors.
- Add Cream: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the pan to boost the sauce’s flavor.
- Simmer Sauce: Sprinkle the Italian seasoning into the sauce and let it simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts fully into the sauce, making it rich and creamy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the sauce over the top. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes to heat the chicken through and allow flavors to meld.
- Garnish: Remove skillet from heat and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Add freshly cracked black pepper and chili flakes if desired for a touch of heat.
- Serve: Serve immediately, spooning the luscious sauce over the chicken breasts. Pair with your favorite side or pasta for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken breasts are of uniform thickness for even cooking.
- Sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil impart more flavor and richness to the sauce.
- Adjust chili flakes according to your preference for heat.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a lighter cream alternative, though sauce will be less rich.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
