Win hearts with this easy marry me chicken recipe! The depth of flavor in the perfectly seasoned creamy tomato sauce is incredible in this 30-minute meal.
In search of another unforgettable date night option? Try my Simple Filet Mignon next.
Why you'll love it
You'll say a thousand times "Yes!" to this easy chicken recipe. Supposedly, marry me chicken will snag you a spouse if you make it for that special someone. Who can resist the tomato-y, creamy, garlicky, white wine-y, herby, totally delicious magic?
As with most of the creamy chicken recipes in the Salt & Lavender arsenal, this one is hassle-free and quick to make with a simple technique. Marry me chicken was popularized on TikTok, but I'm hoping my take on it will be the one you fall in love with!
What you'll need
- Chicken breasts - we're cutting boneless skinless chicken breasts in half lengthwise so they cook faster and more evenly
- Garlic powder - along with salt & pepper, it seasons the chicken directly
- Butter and olive oil - for sautéing
- Flour - to thicken the sauce
- Garlic - adds more savory flavor
- White wine - an elegant touch. Use a dry white like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc, not a cooking wine.
- Heavy cream - to make the sauce luxurious
- Tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes - for that rich tomato flavor
- Oregano and basil - dried oregano and fresh basil are meant to be together
- Red pepper flakes - they add a gentle warmth and really do enhance the dish, so unless you absolutely can't tolerate even a hit of spice, I'd keep them in
- Parmesan - the final cheesy touch
Tools for this recipe
Check out Natasha's favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!
- I use my 10.25" Le Creuset skillet for many of my skillet chicken recipes.
- A Microplane zester is a simple way to grate the parmesan.
- Use a classic chef's knife to easily slice the chicken.
- A wire whisk is useful for helping dissolve the flour into the sauce.
- An instant read thermometer is the easiest way to know it's cooked through to 165F.
How to make marry me chicken
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cut the chicken in half to make four cutlets. Season them, and then pan sear until cooked through. Transfer to a plate, and cover. To the skillet, add the flour and garlic, cooking for about a minute.
Pour in the wine, and whisk so that the flour dissolves. Simmer, and reduce by half. Stir in the cream, tomatoes and tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
After letting it thicken to your desired consistency, remove from the heat, and stir in the parmesan and basil. Return the chicken, and season with extra salt & pepper if needed.
Helpful tips
- Grate your own parmesan cheese! The pre-grated kind doesn't melt or taste as good, and it tends to clump together.
- Sun-dried tomatoes sometimes come in jars packed in oil, or you can get them dry-packed without oil. They will often come julienne-cut (thin strips), but you can definitely chop them to a more manageable size if yours don't.
- Be sure to let your skillet heat up sufficiently before you add the chicken. It helps achieve a nice sear!
Substitutions and variations
- This recipe has the perfect marriage of flavors, so I recommend making it the first time as suggested. 😉
- If you're not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, I would chop up a small tomato and use it instead, or leave them out altogether.
- You could add a handful of fresh spinach in towards the end until it wilts.
- I don't recommend subbing the cream. The acidity in tomatoes is likely to curdle the sauce, and it won't taste as good.
- You may sub the white wine for chicken broth if needed.
What to serve with marry me chicken
- A dinner roll, a veggie side like my Roasted Green Beans or Maple Roasted Beets and Carrots, and a simple Baked Potato or Mashed Potatoes make this a fantastic meal.
- Round it out with a salad for balance. Try my Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad or spring mix with this Creamy Balsamic Dressing.
Leftovers and storage
- Store marry me chicken for 3-4 days in a covered container in the fridge.
- Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat slowly until warmed through.
- Creamy sauces don't freeze well, so I wouldn't recommend doing that.
More easy chicken recipes
If you said yes to this marry me chicken recipe, leave a star rating and review below! You can also tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you made it.
Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes see note
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 small handful fresh basil chopped/torn
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make four thinner pieces. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and salt & pepper.
- Add the butter and olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Let the pan heat up for a few minutes.
- Cook the chicken for about 5-6 minutes/side or until it's golden and cooked through (165F). Transfer the chicken to a plate and loosely tent it with foil to keep it warm (turn the heat off while doing this step).
- Turn the heat back on to medium, and add the flour and garlic to the skillet (the pan should still be hot, but if it's not, let it warm up a bit first). Let it cook for about a minute or so, stirring often.
- Pour in the wine and whisk it until the flour has dissolved. Let it bubble until the liquid has reduced by half.
- Stir in the cream, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes, and then let it simmer for a few minutes until it's thickened to your desired consistency (turn the heat down if it's rapidly boiling).
- Take the skillet off the heat and stir in the parmesan and basil.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet (and any juices from the plate) and spoon some sauce over top. Season with extra salt & pepper as needed.
Notes
- Use parmesan cheese from a block that you're grating yourself for best results. The pre-grated kind doesn't taste or melt as well, and it tends to clump together.
- If your sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain them first. If they aren't already cut into small pieces/strips, I recommend chopping them.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Aly Prose says
This is so good. I’m making it for the second time. Adding spinach. Is there a way to serve this over pasta? Double the sauce maybe?
Natasha says
I'm thrilled you like it!! Yes, I think doubling the sauce should work. Or maybe make my garlic butter noodles with it and just pour a little sauce over: https://bit.ly/46kHEiJ
Tara Mcpherson says
This was my favorite version of this recipe with the white wine instead of chicken broth! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Natasha says
You're very welcome!
Morgan says
Could I sub a non-dairy alternative for the cream?
Natasha says
You could try. Some readers have used Silk's dairy-free whipping cream in similar recipes of mine. Let me know how it goes!
Siobhan says
I needed some comfort food this evening & this chicken dish didn't disappoint:-)
I used fresh tomatoes from the local farmers market & Spinach w/the Basil as a garnish. Angel hair pasta on the side w/a lovely Pinot from the Russian River region in Northern California. Great way to spend a Saturday evening w/the family!!
Natasha says
That's wonderful! 🙂
Mara D says
I'm usually super slow at preparing new recipes but was able to learn this quickly! Turned out yum, the husband and my baby adult (just 18) loved it! Made just as the recipe said though was a little heavy handed with the cheese as usual 😉
Natasha says
I'm thrilled it was a hit and easy to learn, Mara!! 😀 Thanks for your review!
Baylin says
Excellent recipe! Easy to make and delicious!
Natasha says
Thank you!! 😀
Veronica Brown says
Made this recipe today and followed it exactly except for the Parmesan cheese because I did not have any on hand. I really don’t know if the Parmesan cheese could have elevated this dish anymore. It was AMAZING!!!!! Very easy to make as well.
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
So happy you liked it, Veronica! Really appreciate you coming back to leave a review. 🙂
Jessie M says
this dish was absolutely amazing!!! i used chicken broth instead of white wine and everyone absolutely loved it! will be making this dish as a part of my bi-weekly or monthly dinner dishes, thank you!! ☺️
Natasha says
I'm so glad it was a hit and will become a regular in your rotation, Jessie! 😀 Appreciate your review!
Caitlin says
Made this tonight, or what I thought was Marry Me Chicken, but when I added the sun dried tomatoes I had left over in my fridge, I quickly realized they were actually chipotle chilis in adobo instead! Whoops! It still came out delicious, just a little spicer than anticipated. My boyfriend loved it, but we’re both looking forward to trying it the correct way in the near future!
Natasha says
Hahahaha oh noooooo lol. Ah we've all been there. Thanks for making me smile this morning. 🙂
Tina says
I’ve tried various “Marry Me” chicken recipes and I’ve hated them all, but wow this one blew me away! My husband really like this one too! I’m definitely adding this to my monthly rotation ☺️
Natasha says
I love that!! 😀 Thanks for your review!
Stephanie says
I love this. chicken. It goes together very quickly & is delicious. It is perfect for a family meal yet special to serve to guests. Yummy!
Natasha says
Thank you so much!!
Peter J Quale says
This sauce is the most delicious and flavorful thing I have ever tasted! The tomatoes, garlic, wine, cream and basil mix perfectly. Do you have a recipe with a similar sauce that you prepare with pasta?
Natasha says
I'm so happy you liked it!! 😀 I have creamy Tuscan chicken pasta, but it is a little different: https://bit.ly/3Ivxcvm
Kelli says
This was so good! Didn't change a thing, hubby loved it!
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm thrilled to hear that!! 😀 Thanks so much for taking the time to write me a review, Kelli!
Aniko says
This was very good.
Natasha says
Awesome!! 😀 Thank you!