Easy Marry Me Chicken Recipe (Best Creamy Sauce) (2024)

Creamy, tangy, savory and delicious, this easy Marry Me Chicken recipe is super simple to make and quite scrumptious.

If you would like to try another creamy chicken dish, our Tuscan Chicken recipe is perfect for you.

Why you'll love this recipe

This Marry Me Chicken recipe, also sometimes called Man Pleasing Chicken (which is comical in my opinion), has been around for quite a while.

I've made it many times for my family and tested it with different types of chicken. It turns out great every single time. Plus the sauce is perfect on anything: pasta, rice, potatoes, cauliflower rice.....you name it.

Garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, grated parmesan cheese, and a ½ cup heavy cream all come together to create this decadent chicken dish in a cream sauce that everyone will love.

Marry Me Chicken is made in one pan - a large cast iron skillet is recommended - and ready in under 40 minutes. Perfect for those busy weeknights.

If you love easy chicken dinner recipes try this Oven Baked Chicken Legs recipe next.

Recipe ingredients

Olive Oil - Sear your chicken in olive oil before making the delicious creamy sauce.

Chicken Breasts - Boneless skinless chicken breasts work really well for this recipe as they cook evenly and are already perfectly portioned.

Salt

Black Pepper

Garlic - Minced fresh garlic, and a good amount of it, is part of what makes this delicious chicken recipe so amazingly flavorful.

Thyme - Dried or fresh thyme adds an herbal warmth to the sauce.

Oregano - Dried Oregano works with the thyme to amp up the savory flavors of the dish.

Red Pepper Flakes - We use ½ of a teaspoon to add just a little bit of heat. Add more or less to your liking.

Chicken Broth or Chicken Stock - We suggest using a low sodium broth so you can control the amount of salt in the dish.

Heavy Cream - This is what gives the sauce for the chicken its smooth creamy texture.

Sun-dried Tomatoes - This is probably the star ingredient in this dish. Sun-dried tomatoes have a sour tang to them that elevates the flavors perfectly.

Parmesan Cheese - Parmesan adds umami flavor and helps to thicken the sauce.

If you have any questions about this easy chicken recipe, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you.

Step by step instructions

1. Season both sides of the skinless chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
2. In a preheated large skillet over medium, sear the chicken in olive oil for about 5 minutes or until golden brown. Set chicken aside.
3. Add the minced garlic to the hot skillet and cook until fragrant. Add the thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, chicken broth, and heavy cream. While stirring often with a wooden spoon, scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan
4. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
5. Return the cooked chicken to skillet and spoon the sauce over the chicken.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. You can check for 165F with a meat thermometer.

These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.

For a dessert option, you might like this No Bake Biscoff Cheesecake or our Italian hangover cake. If you are living the low carb life, try our Low Carb Lemon Cake.

Expert tips

• We like to leave the chicken breast whole in our recipe, but to shorten the cook time you can cut them into chicken cutlets or pound them with a meat mallet.
• Definitely try to use freshly grated parmesan cheese. It's simply fresher and has so much better flavor. Use a box grater or handheld cheese grater.
• Sun-dried tomatoes usually come packaged in oil. Add a little bit to the pan with the olive oil and sear the chicken. It's a simple way to up the flavor profile of the chicken.
• Speaking of searing. Please let your skillet heat up before you add the chicken. Simple way to test is with a drop of water. It should immediately fizz when it hits the pan.

What kind of chicken can I use?

The beauty of this recipe is that you can use any cut of chicken you have on hand.

We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but I have made this recipe using 8 to 12 chicken tenderloins, and it turns out great.

I have also made it using 6 to 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Again, turned out great.

I have not used any bone in cuts of chicken. If you do, the cook time will be longer. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure the temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees or higher.

What to serve with marry me chicken?

This delicious creamy chicken dish pairs so well with a variety of side dishes. Here are a few ideas:

Pasta - The perfect complement to our delicious marry me chicken. For the best result, after you remove the pan from the oven, take the juicy chicken breasts out and spoon some sauce on top of it.

Place the cooked pasta in the pan with the remaining creamy parmesan sauce. Gently toss it over medium heat for a minute or two. This way the pasta is thoroughly coated in the creamy sauce.

On a low carb diet, try our Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles instead.

Potatoes - Use the creamy sauce as a gravy on mashed potatoes or pour it over roasted potatoes.

Rice - a great side dish that will soak up this delicious sauce. If on a keto diet, use cauliflower rice.

Vegetables - This parmesan cream sauce will make any vegetable taste good. Pour it over Lemon Asparagus or an Keto Brussels Sprouts.

Bread - Created just for you to soak up the sundried tomato cream sauce. You can make a nice garlic bread or some Keto Rolls.

Creamy Polenta - make your own or purchase some premade polenta from your local grocery store.

Storage & Reheating instructions

Fridge - Before storing any meal, you should always let it cool to room temperature first. Place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Freezer - We don't love freezing creamy recipes as they don't always thaw to the same consistency as when freshly made. If you want to freeze any leftovers, place them in an airtight container or freezer zip lock bag. Store up to 3 months.

Reheat - Whether from the fridge or frozen, it is best to reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Adding a little bit of chicken broth to the pan will ensure the chicken stays nice and moist.

FAQs

Why is it called Marry Me Chicken?

It's said that if you cook this for your partner, a marriage proposal may be on its way. Definitely the best chicken recipe for a date night or special occasion.

Yes, it really is that good. So be careful who you cook it for.

Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe in advance. Once it has cooled, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Simply place it in a pan on the stove to reheat.

Can you make this recipe without tomatoes?

Yes, you can definitely make this recipe without tomatoes. Not everyone is a fan of tomatoes. There is no need to replace them with anything, but feel free to explore.

How many carbs are in Marry Me Chicken?

Marry Me Chicken is definitely low on carbs, with each serving only having about 5 grams of net carbs.

For a full and filling keto meal, serve this easy chicken breast recipe with your favorite vegetables or cauliflower rice to soak up all of the delicious creamy sun-dried tomato sauce.

For another keto delicious sauce mopping option, I recommend trying our Keto Rolls or using the sauce in this recipe on our Zucchini Noodles or Low Carb Stuffing.

More chicken recipes

Chicken and Brussel Sprouts - A super simple sheet pan dinner that is quick to make and requires minimal ingredients.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole- You'll love Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. It's the ultimate cheesy, rich, comfort food that your whole family will enjoy. If it’s too cheesy for you, might we suggest making a keto chicken bacon ranch burrito with ourlow carb tortillas?

Crispy Chicken Fritta - Nothing says comfort-food quite like pasta with chicken. This crispy chicken fritta recipe not only delivers big on comfort, but on flavor as well.

Keto Chicken Fajitas- Keto Fajitas are a simple and easy way to create a flavorful, high protein, low carb dinner. This chicken is marinated in a delicious blend of spices, lime and seasonings. Prefer taco seasoning flavors? No problem, use a low carb taco seasoning recipe.

Keto Chicken Enchiladas- Keto Enchiladas with chicken, melty cheese, and a mildly spicy, savory sauce will quickly become a family favorite meal. We like to make ours in these Keto Tortillas. Finish your chicken enchiladas with your favorite toppings – we like thisketo quesoandketo salsa.

Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip– This keto buffalo dip is insanely delicious. It’s loaded with lots of healthy fats and protein and it’s great as a meal or an appetizer. This recipe only uses a handful of ingredients and it’s easy to make.

Keto Chicken Wings– Keto recipes don’t get any easier than this keto chicken wings recipe. These little tasty chicken wings are super flavorful and filling. Just a note, they can get messy. Dip them in different sauces or someketo BBQ sauce, and enjoy!

Creamy Stuffed Chicken Florentine - This recipe is super creamy and dreamy and it's full of healthy fats and protein. We'd serve it over cauli-rice or hearts of palm pasta.

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