Description
This Skillet Marry Me Chicken recipe features tender chicken in a creamy, savory sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, perfect for a quick yet elegant weeknight dinner. It’s a one-pan dish designed to bring restaurant-quality flavor to your table with minimal fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 0.5 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- Sear Chicken: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken 5-7 minutes per side until deeply golden and cooked through (internal 165 F / 74 C). Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: If needed, add a tiny bit more oil to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until wonderfully fragrant and lightly golden.
- Build Sauce: Pour in 1 cup chicken broth, scraping up all browned bits from the pan for flavor. Stir in sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Finish Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and 0.5 cup grated Parmesan until melted and smooth, slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine & Serve: Return seared chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the creamy sauce. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to warm through and absorb flavors. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs.
Notes
For quicker prep, use pre-minced garlic or pre-sliced sun-dried tomatoes. Consider adding 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes for heat, or 2 cups (60g) fresh spinach during the last 2 minutes of simmering for added greens. This dish pairs well with whole wheat pasta or brown rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (or equivalent thighs) with sauce
- Calories: 620 calories
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg
Keywords: skillet chicken, marry me chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, creamy chicken, one-pan, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Italian seasoning, chicken thighs, family friendly