So good it’ll make everyone want to marry you… that’s really how good Marry Me Chicken is! And even you’re not in the market for a proposal, your diners will certainly love you a little bit more after you’ve dished this beauty of a chicken dinner up.
I’ve been wanting to try create my own version of this recipe after it was all over Pinterest for years, then later went viral on Tik Tok. But where would I start with Marry Me Chicken?!
I looked at maybe 20 versions online, and according to Today, the name for this chicken-in-a-vaguely-Italian-style-cream-sauce was coined by American food publication Delish, because it was even better than Ina Garten’s much-loved ‘Engagement Roast Chicken’ recipe (national foodie treasure in the US).
All of the recipes had in common using chicken, cream, sun dried tomatoes and parmesan. I made a couple of tweaks for my own version, which, dare I say, make it even better?! Please try it and let me know if you agree!
My take on Marry Me Chicken:
⭐️ I’ve added sun dried tomatoes earlier in the process so they kind of melt a little into the sauce. I tested both ways and this felt much tastier than adding later.
⭐️ I used oregano rather than thyme, as I feel the light flavour works better here.
⭐️ I coated the chicken breasts in flour to thicken the sauce slightly (not all of the recipes I looked at do this).
⭐️ I used the juice of half a lemon at the end, just to ‘lift’ the sauce from being too rich. Do taste it yourself and decide if you feel you need it.
What else I have to say about Marry Me Chicken!
As a modern-day feminist, I’m not entirely sure about the title of this recipe. Are we still saying that marriage is the ultimate goal in life?! To be honest, the chicken is so good that I’m not going to get bogged down with what is essentially a catchy title to try and convey just how delicious this pan-fried chicken dish is.
AND ANOTHER THING!… I’m not normally a huge fan of cream sauces as they can be so heavy, but this uses one small pot of cream and the impact is huge. Really – it’s so worth it.
Marry Me Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken breasts – Skinless and boneless.
- Plain flour
- Olive oil
- Garlic – Fresh or shortcut-type is fine
- Sun dried tomatoes
- Dried oregano
- Paprika
- Double cream – Heavy cream in the USA.
- Chicken stock– Made from a cube is fine.
- Parmesan cheese – Finely grated.
- Fresh basil leaves
- Lemon – We just want the juice.
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
How to make Marry Me Chicken
1. Coat the chicken in flour.
2. Heat oil in a pan and carefully add the chicken. Brown on each side.
3. Turn the heat down and add garlic, sun dried tomatoes, oregano and paprika to the pan. Cook as per the recipe below.
4. Add the cream, stock, parmesan and salt and pepper. Stir and add the chicken. Put the lid on and cook as per the recipe below.
Hint: Once you’re sure the chicken is cooked through, remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle over the basil and a squeeze of lemon.
What sides to serve with Marry Me Chicken
- Colcannon
- Roast parsnips
- Rice
- Couscous
- Parmentier potatoes
- Green veg – lots of green veg!
Leftovers
In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully in the microwave or covered in the oven before serving.
In the freezer Creamy sauces don’t freeze overly well and the chicken would be a little dry when you’re reheating it from frozen, however I wouldn’t let it go to waste. If freezing is your best option, do it, but manage your expectations for when you reheat it. Adding it to pasta as a sauce might be nice though.
Top tips
Cooking times
How long your chicken will take will vary on the thickness of the breasts. If in doubt, check your meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked through. (The ideal cooking temperature for chicken is 74°C, according to Thermapen – my go-to thermometer-makers. There’s also more cooking time information here).
If your sauce curdles
When you add the lemon juice at the end, the sauce can curdle a little if it’s very hot. If it does, just remove the chicken breasts to serve and give the sauce a good whisk.
Adapt this recipe
You can simplify this recipe with a slightly different version – Marry Me Chicken Orzo – it’s a quick one pot pasta with all the flavours and deliciousness of the original dish!
FAQ
The combination of pan-frying the chicken as well as simmering it in the sauce gives a delicious golden coating with a succulent meat on the inside. The sauce is just the right balance of creamy, zesty and cheesy.
While there’s so much wonderful flavour, it’s also a pretty simple recipe and anyone can make it, which is the ultimate test of how well a recipe is received! No nonsense. Just delicious.
It’s also impressive if you’re cooking a special meal, without much faff or expense involved.
I always use my favourite saute pan, you can read my reviews here with links: One Pan Review.
Yes sure. Just swap the cream and parmesan for dairy-free alternatives and you’re good to go.
I love a recipe with a story behind it, and because food is all about coming together and sharing, you can impress your family or guests with some of these other funky-named meals: Campfire Stew, Hunter’s Chicken, Bubble and Squeak, Cowboy Pie, Dirty Rice.
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Marry Me Chicken {BEST Ever Recipe!}
Ingredients
- 650 g Chicken breast (skinless and boneless) About x4
- 50 g Plain flour
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 Garlic cloves Peeled and crushed
- 150 g Sun dried tomatoes Drained
- 1 tsp Dried oregano
- 2 tsp Paprika
- 150 ml Double cream
- 200 ml Chicken stock
- 50 g Parmesan cheese Grated
- 15 g Fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 Lemon Just the juice
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Coat the chicken breasts in the flour.
- In a large, deep frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat. When it's hot, carefully add the chicken breasts. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a plate, turn the heat under the pan to low and add the garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano and paprika. Stir for 3-5 minutes until the garlic is softened.
- Add the cream, stock, parmesan and plenty of salt and pepper and give everything a good stir.
- Sit the chicken back in the sauce. Put the lid on the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Check the chicken is cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle over the basil leaves and the squeeze of half a lemon.
Daniel says
Sounds lovely but 17grams of sugar??
Kaye says
Oh behave
Sarah Rossi says
Hi Daniel, sorry I’m not sure what question you’re asking? Sun dried tomatoes do indeed include natural sugars.
Danielle says
Could you do this in the slow cooker perhaps? After the searing stage? I don’t have a deep pan with a lid other than a saucepan 🙁
Sarah Rossi says
Hi Danielle, no I wouldn’t recommend it as dairy in the slow cooker is very tricky unless added right at the end. I’ll try and work on an adapted slow cooker version maybe!
Danielle says
Ooh lovely that would be fab! Thanks!
Carolyn says
Hi, I made it in a small deep frying pan (halved the quantities as just making for 2) and popped the lid of my largest pot on it. Was delicious.
Danielle says
Thank you Carolyn, will try my largest saucepan lid! 🙂
Trudi says
How easy is this dish to make! Served with whole meal pasta on day 1. Day 2 had it with pasta courgettes and peas. Absolutely delicious. Love love love
Kirsty says
Delicious! Cooked it for the first time last night for my s.i.l and she immediately asked for the recipe 😋
Denise says
Banging Recipe was the comment from my son !!!
Nicola Woodall says
I think this is your best recipe yet, absolutely gorgeous dish, can’t wait to have it again 😋😋😋
Charlie says
This is delicious and so easy to make! My husband and both kids ate it and asked if we could have it again…my youngest is THE fussiest person ever with dinners so that was an added bonus!
Emma says
Made this last week for my husband and I and WOW! Absolutely delicious! Served it with creamy mash and some green beans. He’s not normally a fan of creamy sauces but definitely would order this again 😉
Louise says
Just made it. It was so easy and delicious. Thank you Sarah.
Debbie says
I can only find sundried tomato antipasti – can I use that for the sauce?
Cheryl says
Amazing recipe 🤩 first time I have left a review and I have done a lot of Taming Twins recipes! Could have licked the plate!!
Sue Hellon says
Oh my goodness! Dinner this evening was fab!! Married for almost 44 years and hubby said he’d still marry me! Absolutely delicious recipe.
Thanks again, Sarah!
Sue Hellon xx
notanaturalcook says
I made this last night for my husband after he’d spent a saturday trying to renovate our garden. He’s the usual cook in the household as its not my natural forte, I’m more a baker.
He turned around and said ‘this is your best yet’ and ‘we will definitely have this again’
Overall not difficult to make either for those of us not blessed with culinary skills
I paired with some baby parsley potatoes
notanaturalcook says
forgot to rate it!
Kelly says
Omg this was amazing. I did two version. Chicken for meat eater and quorn for me..just amazing, went down well with family.
Jane says
My husband said if he had this in a restaurant he’d be a happy man.
We had it with roast potatoes and veg. The leftover sauce he put with pasta to take to work.
Thank you Sarah for another great recipe.
Banu says
I rarely comment on things online but this was AMAZING!! Honestly right up my street! Also don’t normally like chicken breast as find it dry so tend to use thighs.. but took a gamble and was so nice and tender- I was very impressed! Thank you for all your brilliant recipes. You are amazing. Husband also thinks you are amazing. Thank you!
Dawn says
Wow just made this for my husband and he said thank goodness I married you we’ve only been married 35 years 🤣. Thank you it’s an amazing dish .
Sam White says
This went down a storm in our house! My 9yr old loved it. Said it was insane and is now his favourite chicken dinner, he even liked the basil!
I served it with roasted new potatoes and abit of salad. Safe to say we will be having it again.
Mel says
This recipe is divine !
Everyone loved it and my son asked me to send him the recipe so he can make it for his girlfriend although he did say “what else can I call it ?” 🤣
Martha says
Amazing! Could I swap out the chicken for fish for a vegetarian option?
Fiona says
Loved this recipe!
Trev says
Absolutely delicious!! Easy, inexpensive and quick to make but is dinner-party quality. Served with long stem broccoli and parmentier potatoes; looking forward to the leftovers tonight with pasta. Thanks Sarah!
Hannah says
Delicious and so easy to make! My husband and 14 month old loved it! Definitely making this again.
Julie says
This is gorgeous with Orzo as well
Olivia says
SENSATIONAL! This recipe was sooooooo delicious & the family said they could eat it every night! We served with mash but next week are trying it as a pasta sauce 😋 can’t wait
Daniela says
I made this but Keto style and it came out AMAZING! I did it without the tomatoes, and with almond flower instead. Let me tell you, it was delicious!
Laura Elgar says
Can’t wait to try this, is there any alternative to the double cream that’s lower fat or calories and still gives the same finish/ taste?
Sarah Rossi says
I think this one does need cream, unusually for my recipes!! It’s only 566 cals a portion though so hopefully can still fit in?
Lisa says
Delicious! I used the oil from the sun dried tomatoes to add flavour and omitted the salt and pepper. Served over fettuccine. Made for 6 people and all gave it the thumbs up.