The good news is this delicious Marry Me Chicken recipe is egg-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free. With some substitutions, it can be gluten-free and dairy-free.
“Marry Me Chicken” is a popular recipe that has captured the hearts (and stomachs) of many home cooks and food enthusiasts. It is a creamy, savory, and slightly tangy chicken dish with a combination of flavors that many find irresistible, including ourselves.
It’s a delicious meal that commonly uses chicken, cream, sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan, and some mild-tasting herbs making it a hit with both adults and children. It’s a great dish to serve at family gatherings, dinner parties, or date nights, as it’s sure to impress guests and leave them satisfied.
Marry Me Chicken is very similar to Tuscan Chicken, and both are well-loved for several different reasons. Marry Me Chicken is not only rich and creamy but is the star of the show for its sweetness and tanginess of sun-dried tomatoes. The slight heat from the chili flakes creates a decadent, balanced flavor, compared to Tuscan chicken, which is milder.
What’s To Love?
💕 Despite its gourmet taste, “Marry Me Chicken” is relatively simple to prepare.
💕 Doesn’t require any complex cooking skills or hard-to-find ingredients.
💕 Tastes as good as it looks, making it a great dish for almost any occasion, but is especially fab for Valentine’s Day.
💕 The sauce is rich and velvety, making it indulgently satisfying.
💕 Uses only a small amount of cream, so it isn’t overly heavy.
💕 It can often be made in under an hour, making it a great option for weeknight dinners.
Have you already tried our Marry Me Chicken? If so, let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!
Marry Me Chicken Origin
“Marry Me Chicken” is a popular American dish that gained attention on social media platforms and food blogs in the early 2010s. Its exact origin is somewhat unclear, as it seems to have evolved from various recipes and cooking communities over time.
The name “Marry Me Chicken” suggests that the dish is so delicious that it might prompt someone to propose marriage after tasting it. However, the origins of the name itself are uncertain. Some believe it may have been coined by a home cook who served the dish to a loved one and received an enthusiastic proposal in response. Others suggest it may have been named as such due to its rich, flavorful sauce, which is indeed quite irresistible.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
We feel every ingredient adds to the overall taste and texture; if you remove one, it’s like you’ve removed them all.
- Chicken — use chicken breasts for best results, boneless, skinless, sliced lengthwise.
- Pancetta — use smoked; it adds extra smokey flavor.
- Flour — use all-purpose flour, which is sometimes referred to as plain flour.
- Oil — use extra virgin coconut oil because it doesn’t leave a bad aftertaste and has a higher smoking point than olive oil.
- Butter — for the best results, use dairy butter at room temperature.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes — use sun-dried tomatoes.
- Cream — use double cream, aka heavy cream.
- Stock — use Chicken Stock (broth) to compliment the chicken breasts.
- Parmesan — use grated.
- Spices / Herbs — use dried oregano, fresh basil leaves, mild chili flakes, and smokey paprika to give the dish an aromatic taste and a deep red color.
- Garlic — fresh is best.
- Lemon — use fresh lemon juice only.
- Salt — use Himalayan salt; it brings out the flavor and offsets the sweetness.
- Pepper — use whole peppers and grind them.
For more detailed ingredients, see the recipe card.
Customizations
Here are some foodie alternatives should you want to make some changes:
- Chicken — can be substituted with turkey, and chicken thighs can also be used.
- Pancetta — use thick, smokey bacon and cut into chunks.
- Flour — rice flour is a great alternative; substitute equal amounts or omit completely.
- Oil — use rice bran oil.
- Butter — dairy-free butter is a great alternative.
- Cream — full-fat crème fraîche, the cream from a can of coconut milk, or dairy-free cream will work great.
- Parmesan — dairy-free parmesan is a great alternative.
- Garlic — instead of fresh, use garlic paste.
When substituting ingredients, it’s essential to remember that the taste, texture, and overall result might differ, particularly if you’re substituting many ingredients.
If you have made the Marry Me Chicken with any customizations, we’d love to hear about it; please message us in the comments.
Instructions – Overview
Marry Me Chicken is very easy to make because no oven baking is required; instead, it’s about simmering on the stovetop. Here’s a breakdown of how to get started on your journey (more detailed instructions are in the recipe card):
▶︎ To begin, carefully wash the chicken fillets. Then, in a bowl, add the flour, salt and pepper. Mix well, then coat the chicken in the flour mixture.
▶︎ In a large, deep frying pan, melt the oil and butter over medium heat. When the oil and butter are fairly hot, carefully add the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes and turn to cook for a further 5 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate once seared.
▶︎ Reduce the heat to low, then add the pancetta, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chili flakes, oregano and paprika. Stir for 3-5 minutes until the garlic is softened. Add the cream, stock, and parmesan. Stir well.
▶︎ Place the chicken back in the sauce. Put the lid on the pan and cook for 10 minutes, ensuring the chicken is turned at least once. Check that the chicken is cooked through by slicing or cutting a piece in half. Check that there is no blood oozing out or that it is pink. Remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle over the basil leaves, and squeeze in the lemon juice before serving.
For more detailed instructions, notes, and ideas…see the recipe card.
Tools You’ll Need
Want to make the best Marry Me Chicken? Using the correct equipment for preparation is essential; we think they’re a big helping hand. We understand that you might already have some of these kitchen tools to make this recipe, or you might want to use other tools and may not require our recommendations. Here are some of our suggestions to get you started:
- Frying Pan — for cooking the chicken and making the sauce.
- Mixing Bowl — for mixing the creamy ingredients together.
- Thermapen — to check the temperature of the chicken.
- Garlic Press — for mincing garlic quickly and easily.
- Chopping Board — to chop garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and any other ingredients.
- Weighing Scales and Measuring Spoons to accurately measure the ingredients.
- Silicone Spatula — for stirring the sauce and incorporating all the ingredients smoothly.
For more kitchen tool recommendations for the Marry Me Chicken, see the recipe card.
If you love those gadgets for this recipe, then you’ll love this Kitchenaid frying pan (skillet). It’s our go-to for many of our recipes, and we think every budding chef needs it.
Hard-wearing KitchenAid Frying Pan with heavy-gauge forged aluminum, fast heating, extreme durability, scratch resistance, 3-layer German-engineered non-stick coating, matte stainless steel handles for a cool and secure grip, induction-ready, oven safe up to 220°C, dishwasher safe and stackable for easy storage.
Check out our favorite kitchen equipment that we love to use with all our recipes.
Storing
See our FAQs for detailed instructions on storing, refrigeration, freezing, and defrosting and for answers to readers’ questions.
Do you have a question? If so, let us know in the comments and we’ll reply within 24-48 hours and add your question to our FAQs if relevant.
Pairing
Marry Me Chicken is frequently eaten as a standalone meal, but can easily be paired. Here are some suggestions and our favorite go-to’s what to eat with it:
▶︎ We feel it’s particularly delicious eaten with a crusty baguette to mop up any leftover creamy sauce.
▶︎ Roasted crispy potatoes and creamy mashed potatoes are great at mopping up the sauce, and they complement the richness of the chicken.
▶︎ One of our favorite go-to’s for this dish is steamed broccoli and peas because it adds contrast, colorful tones, and healthy notes to the meal.
▶︎ Try our Garlic Butter Rice; it goes perfectly with it. Cauliflower Rice is also a great low-carb alternative that soaks up the sauce well.
▶︎ If you love vegetables as much as we do, you’ll enjoy sauteed asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrot batons, zucchini noodles, green beans, or sauté of leafy greens such as swiss chard or spinach. Or why not go cold and have a side salad?
▶︎ Fluffy couscous can serve as a lighter alternative to rice or pasta.
▶︎ When selecting a wine, consider a white wine to pair with the chicken. A crisp, dry white wine, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio, can be a great choice. The acidity in white wine can cut through the richness of the creamy sauce.
▶︎ If you’re not drinking alcohol, you can create a non-alcoholic mocktail with soda water, fruit juices, and herbs. You can also drink it with a cup of tea, such as Earl Gray.
More Recipes
Here are some other creamy-rich recipes that we think you might also like:
Thank you for checking out Marry Me Chicken!
We hope you enjoy making and eating it! Let us know how you get along, and please rate using the ⭐️ by the comments. HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for all of our latest updates. Happy Baking!
⭐️ Quick Tip: Read the recipe in its entirety before you start. This will help you understand the ingredients, steps, and timing involved, and allow you to prepare any necessary equipment or ingredients beforehand. Voila…you’re all set to go!
Ingredients
- 650 grams Chicken Fillets
- 50 grams Pancetta
- 50 grams All-Purpose Flour
- 30 ml Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- 30 grams Butter
- 150 grams Sun-Dried Tomatoes
- 200 ml Double Cream
- 300 ml Chicken Stock
- 50 grams Parmesan Cheese - grated
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili Flakes
- 15 grams Fresh Basil Leaves
- ½ Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 pinch Himalayan Salt
- 1 pinch Black Pepper
Instructions
- Carefully wash the chicken fillets.
- In a bowl, add the flour, salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Coat the chicken in the flour mixture.
- In a large, deep frying pan, melt the oil and butter over medium heat.
- When the oils are fairly hot, carefully add the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes, and turn to cook for a further 5 minutes.
- Remove the chicken breasts to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to low.
- Add the pancetta, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chili flakes, oregano and paprika.
- Stir for 3-5 minutes until the garlic is softened.
- Add the cream, stock, parmesan. Stir well.
- Sit the chicken back in the sauce.
- Put the lid on the pan and cook for 10 minutes, ensuring the chicken is turned at least once.
- Check the chicken is cooked through by slicing or cutting a piece of chicken in half. Check the chicken is completely white with no blood oozing out.
- Remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle over the basil leaves, and squeeze in the lemon juice.
Notes
- If you’re unsure whether your chicken is cooked through, use a thermometer. Our favorite is Thermapen, which states that the chicken should be at least 74°C.
- Start by searing the chicken in a hot pan until they develop a golden-brown crust, but not burnt. This step adds flavor and locks in the chicken’s juices.
- Opt for good-quality sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for a richer flavor.
- Be patient when simmering the chicken in the sauce. Allow it to cook gently to ensure the chicken remains tender and absorbs the sauce’s flavors.
- Allow the sauce to cool slightly before adding the lemon juice to prevent curdling.
- Before serving, let it rest for 5 minutes for the best flavor and texture.
- Once the cream has been added, ensure it doesn’t boil because it could curdle.
Feel free to swap any ingredient listed with whatever you have lying around. It will probably taste just as amazing! Please let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it!
See our FAQs below for detailed instructions on storing, refrigerating, freezing, defrosting, and answering readers’ questions.
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FAQ’s & Troubleshooting
By addressing these FAQs and troubleshooting tips, you can overcome common challenges and create a delicious batch of Marry Me Chicken every time.
Your Questions Matter
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For food safety top tips, check out USDA.gov.
have you already tried this Creamy Marry Me Chicken? if so, let us know how it was…we can’t wait to hear all about it! For more yum recipes subscribe to our newsletter!
Sharon – Foodie Blogger
I’m a full-time food blogger, mother of 3 grown adults and 3 huskies. Most days you can find me in the kitchen creating new recipes, I love cooking indulgent bakes and love sharing them. I am lucky to connect with and inspire people from all around the world and help you on your cooking journey so you can eat in style!
Oh my Wow! This is one amazing recipe. The only amendment I made was adding a little more cream, but that’s me, I love creamy. I won’t be forgetting this recipe anytime soon. Thank u
Thank you Alison, we’re glad that thought our Marry Me Chicken was amazing, extra sauce is always a big bonus