How to Make Marry Me Chicken

Be prepared when you serve marry me chicken, because your date may drop to one knee and swear their undying love—to you and this recipe!

Our marry me chicken is made with quick-cooking, thin chicken cutlets. Garlic, herbs and red pepper flakes pair nicely with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, and fresh spinach and basil in the sauce add a pop of color and flavor.

Find more chicken dinner ideas that everyone will love.

What Is Marry Me Chicken?

The staff at Delish had no idea what they were in for when they decided to try sauteed chicken with a creamy sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce. The flavors were so unbelievably good that cries of “I’d marry you for that chicken!” could be heard in the halls. It wasn’t long before word spread of this “marriage material” chicken dish.

Even if you’re already married, it’s worth making our version of this creamy chicken dish for your sweetheart. It might land you a second honeymoon!

The Best ‘Marry Me Chicken’ Recipe

ingredients to make Mary me chicken on a white wooden surface

This recipe makes 4-6 servings. Look for thin chicken cutlets at the store, or simply slice regular chicken breasts horizontally to create two thinner halves.

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds chicken breast cutlets
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced into thin strips
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon thyme
3/4 cup heavy cream, warmed
1-1/2 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
Chopped fresh basil for garnish

Editor’s Tip: You can use a grater to mince garlic!

Directions

Step 1: Coat the chicken

coating raw chicken in a flour mixture

Whisk together the flour, salt and pepper in a large, shallow dish. Dredge the chicken cutlets one at a time, coating both sides of each cutlet completely in flour.

Step 2: Cook the chicken

cooking chicken in as skillet

Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add in the oil. Add 2-3 cutlets to the pan (don’t crowd them) and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until they’re lightly browned and cooked through. Move the chicken to a plate. Continue cooking the rest of the cutlets. Hold the cooked chicken aside.

Step 3: Begin the sauce

making sauce in a skillet for marry me chicken

Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium, and add the tablespoon of butter to the pan. When it’s melted, add the minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds to a minute until fragrant but not burned. Pour in the chicken stock, and stir in the sliced sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, oregano and thyme. Simmer the mixture for a minute.

Step 4: Add cream, spinach and cheese

Adding the cream, spinach and cheese to the marry me chicken sauce in a skillet

Pour the warmed heavy cream into the pan. Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the baby spinach and grated Parmesan. Stir the sauce gently for another minute or so until the spinach wilts.

Step 5: Return chicken to pan

cooking the chicken in the sauce in a skillet

Slide the cooked chicken cutlets into the sauce, and let them simmer for 3-4 minutes, spooning sauce over them, until they’re warmed through.

Step 6: Serve

Place the chicken cutlets on plates and spoon sauce over them. Sprinkle grated Parmesan and chopped basil over the tops and serve immediately.

Tips for Making Marry Me Chicken

What do I serve with marry me chicken?

The Italian flavors in this dish make it a natural to pair with many types of pasta, like linguine, fettuccine or cavatappi. You can also serve this chicken and sauce with cooked rice or tender gnocchi. Serve homemade breadsticks or garlic bread on the side to sop up the sauce.

How can I spice up marry me chicken?

For extra heat, swap out the red pepper flakes for a little garlic chili sauce, smoked paprika, ancho chili powder or spicy hot sauce like harissa.

How else can I make this recipe my own?

Try making the creamy sauce with strips of roasted red peppers in place of sun-dried tomatoes. If you have herbs available in your kitchen garden, add fresh thyme, rosemary and more basil to the sauce. Diced, sauteed onions or shallots can be added to the sauce along with the minced garlic. Make the creamy sauce to spoon over pan-fried or oven-baked chicken thighs instead of breasts.

Our Absolute Best Chicken Recipes

1 / 55

Moroccan Apricot Chicken

Traditionally, Moroccan chicken with apricots includes chili pepper paste, but I use chili sauce in my version. Serve it alone or with couscous for a heartier meal. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois This spiced and saucy slow-cooker chicken is so good, we've named it our 2021 Recipe of the Year! Arlene included a secret ingredient that sends it over the top: vanilla extract. A go-to for many baked goods, vanilla adds a wonderful depth to savory dishes, including this one. Plus, it's an easy and elegant meal—a winner on any day of the week. For more standout recipes, check out all our 2021 Recipe of the Year finalists. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Go to Recipe

Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Exps Ft21 29317 F 1102 1 13

White Chicken Enchiladas

I adapted the recipe for these rich and creamy white chicken enchiladas from a cooking class I had a while back. —Janice Montiverdi, Sugar Land, Texas

Recent in Recipes