This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Perfectly cooked tender chicken breasts smothered in a flavorful cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes come together to create one of the most delicious chicken recipes you’ll ever enjoy. Learn the secret to making the most delicious Marry Me Chicken!

If you love easy chicken dinner recipes simmered in a flavorful sauce, be sure to also check out my Smothered Chicken and Chicken Carbonara.

marry me chicken over pasta.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great recipe ideas from me every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Different versions of Marry Me Chicken have gone viral for good reason. It’s a simple and easy-to-make recipe, yet fancy enough to serve for any special occasion or date night.

When I created this recipe, I wanted the rich flavor of the sundried tomatoes to come through in the creamy sauce as well as on the pasta. Instead of using olive oil to cook the chicken, I used the oil from the sundried tomatoes. It was also used on the freshly cooked pasta. From the very first bite, I knew this recipe was going to be a family favorite.

Why I love this recipe

  • Perfect for busy weeknights
  • It’s the kind of dinner the whole family will love
  • So good it just may end in a marriage proposal!
close up of marry me chicken recipe in black skillet.

Ingredients needed to make Marry Me Chicken

A complete list of ingredients with exact measurements is listed in the recipe card below, but here is a brief overview so you know what to put on your grocery list.

  • sundried tomatoes in oil 
  • boneless skinless chicken breasts (chicken cutlets can also be used)
  • salt and black pepper
  • all-purpose flour
  • butter
  • yellow onion
  • minced garlic
  • chicken broth
  • heavy whipping cream
  • Italian seasoning
  • parmesan cheese – grate with a Microplane for best results
  • pasta (spaghetti or angel hair pasta works great)
ingredients needed to make marry me chicken

How to make Marry Me Chicken

Start with some prep work.

  1. Prep sundried tomatoes: Separate the sundried tomatoes from the oil with a colander. Reserve the oil for the recipe. Then measure out about 1/2 cup of the sundried tomatoes and dice them into tiny pieces. Any remaining sundried tomatoes can be used as garnish or returned to the jar with any oil that is not used.
  2. Prep chicken: Place boneless skinless breasts, one at a time, in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or a heavy-duty roller to flatten to about a 1/2″ to 3/4″ uniform thickness. Cut any very large pieces so that you end up with 4-6 individual portion sizes. Set tenderized chicken on a plate and cover both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Dredge in flour: Add flour to a shallow dish and dredge both sides of each piece of chicken in the flour. Shake off any excess. Set flour-coated chicken on a clean dry plate and discard excess flour.
  4. Boil water: Add a large pot of water to the stove and begin heating it for the pasta. For best results, add a tablespoon of salt to the water.

Cook the chicken and pasta

  1. Brown chicken: Heat a very large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 Tablespoons of the reserved sundried tomato oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add the pieces of chicken in a single layer. Allow them to cook until golden brown on the bottom. This should take 5-10 minutes for the first side and a little less time for the second side. You may have to move them around occasionally to prevent sticking. Once both sides have a crisp golden brown outside, transfer them to a plate and tent with foil to keep them warm.
  2. Cook the pasta: When the chicken is just about done, add the pasta to the boiling water and it should be done right around the same time the chicken and cream sauce are done.

Make that amazing cream sauce

  1. Saute onions and garlic: Add the 2 Tablespoons of oil to the hot pan along with the diced onion. Stir to coat in the oil and then only stir occasionally to prevent burning. After about 5 minutes, add the fresh garlic, stir, and allow to cook for another couple of minutes.
  2. Create sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken stock and heavy cream to the pan. Stir with a flat bottom wooden spoon to deglaze and lift any of the brown bits that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add the minced 1/2 cup of sundried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and finely grated parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine.
  3. Cook with chicken: Add cooked pieces of chicken back to the sauce. Reduce heat lowest level which will allow you to maintain a very gentle simmer. Turn chicken pieces. The recipe is ready to serve when the chicken is heated through and has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper.

Serve it up

When the pasta is done, drain it and toss it with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved sundried tomato oil. Serve the Marry Me Chicken by adding a portion of the pasta to a dish.

Place chicken breasts on top along with a spoonful of sauce. Top with additional parmesan cheese, fresh chopped basil, and additional pieces of sundried tomatoes, if desired.

Storage and reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. This recipe is best consumed within 3-4 days.

Any recipe with a cream sauce must be reheated gently. Either add the leftovers to a saucepan, cover, and heat over very low heat, or microwave in one-minute increments at 50% power.

one piece of chicken breast with sundried tomatoes and cream sauce.

Pin this now to save it for later

Pin It

Marry Me Chicken

Prep10 minutes
Cook20 minutes
Total30 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Perfectly cooked tender chicken breasts smothered in a flavorful cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes come together to create one of the most delicious chicken recipes you'll ever enjoy.

Ingredients 

  • 7 ounces sundried tomatoes in oil 7-8.5 ounce jar recommended; you will use both the oil and some of the sundried tomatoes in the recipe
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 large
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese finely grated, use more if desired
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 16 ounces pasta spaghetti or any other variety
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great recipe ideas from me every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Instructions 

  • Prep sundried tomatoes: Separate the sundried tomatoes from the oil with a colander. Reserve the oil for the recipe. Then measure out about 1/2 cup of the sundried tomatoes and dice them into tiny pieces. Any remaining sundried tomatoes can be used as garnish or returned to the jar with any oil that is not used.
    dicing sundried tomatoes.
  • Prep chicken: Place boneless skinless breasts, one at a time, in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Use a meat mallet or a heavy-duty roller to flatten to about a 1/2" to 3/4" uniform thickness. Cut any very large pieces so that you end up with 4-6 individual portion sizes. Set tenderized chicken on a plate and cover both sides with salt and pepper.
    rolling a chicken breast to make it thinner.
  • Dredge in flour: Add flour to a dish and dredge both sides of each piece of chicken in the flour. Shake off any excess. Set flour-coated chicken on a clean dry plate and discard excess flour.
    dredging chicken breasts in flour.
  • Boil water: Add a large pot of water to the stove and begin heating it for the pasta. For best results, add a tablespoon of salt to the water.
  • Brown chicken: Heat a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 Tablespoons of the reserved sundried tomato oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add the pieces of chicken in a single layer. Allow them to cook until golden brown on the bottom. This should take 5-10 minutes for the first side and a little less time for the second side. You may have to move them around occasionally to prevent sticking. Once both sides have a crisp golden brown outside, transfer them to a plate and tent with foil to keep them warm.
    pan frying flour-coated chicken breasts.
  • Cook pasta: When the chicken is just about done, add the pasta to the boiling water and it should be done right around the same time the chicken and cream sauce are done.
    adding pasta to boiling water.
  • Saute onions and garlic: Add the 2 Tablespoons of butter to the hot pan along with the diced onion. Stir to coat in the oil and then only stir occasionally to prevent burning. After about 5 minutes, add the garlic, stir, and allow to cook for another minute or two.
    sauteing onions with garlic in cast iron skillet.
  • Create sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken broth and heavy cream to the pan. Stir with a flat bottom spoon to deglaze and lift anything that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan. Add the minced 1/2 cup of sundried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and finely grated parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine.
    adding sundried tomatoes, parmesan, and herbs to cream sauce.
  • Cook with chicken: Add cooked pieces of chicken back to the sauce. Reduce heat lowest level which will allow you to maintain a very gentle simmer. Turn chicken pieces. The recipe is ready to serve when the chicken is heated through and has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper.
    homemade marry me chicken in skillet.
  • Serve: When the pasta is done, drain it and toss it with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved sundried tomato oil. Serve the Marry Me Chicken by adding a portion of the pasta to a dish along with a piece of chicken and a spoonful of sauce. Top with additional parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and additional pieces of sundried tomatoes, if desired.

Notes

Nutritional information is based on six portions and includes pasta.

Storage and reheating

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. This recipe is best consumed within 3-4 days.
Any recipe with a cream sauce must be reheated gently. Either add the leftovers to a saucepan, cover, and heat over very low heat, or microwave in one-minute increments at 50% power.

Nutrition

Calories: 707kcal, Carbohydrates: 71g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 134mg, Sodium: 738mg, Potassium: 1192mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1231IU, Vitamin C: 37mg, Calcium: 176mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave me a comment below

Hi! Iโ€™m Krissy.

I love to create the BEST versions of your favorite recipes. If you love to cook, love to eat, or just have a deep appreciation for good food, you're in the right place! Stick around... I have hundreds of recipes for you to make.

You May Also Like

5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Ask a question or leave a comment. I'm happy to help in any way and I love hearing what you think about the recipe. Be sure to leave a rating!

Recipe Rating





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    As my little grandson would’ve said, “Oh my sakes this is good”. (He’s 18 now and I don’t know if he’d like it.)
    All I can say is MAKE THIS RECIPE! It is so good. It does require a bit of prep but I started early. I like your tips for the order in which to do things. It makes sense. Since there are only two of us we have leftovers which is really good because we loved this.

  2. 5 stars
    Just found your website last week and it is already my favorite. Mary Me Chicken was easy and top notch. Had last minute guests for dinner and totally trusted this recipe to be a success and it was. I doubled it for large group and there were no leftovers: HUGE HIT!!. Thanks.