Marry Me Chicken – Easy Best Ever Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce (25 Minutes)

by
Marry me chicken cutlets in creamy parmesan sauce with sun dried tomatoes and basil in a skillet

This marry me chicken is creamy, juicy, and full of bold flavor—and it’s ready in about 25 minutes. The sauce is rich with parmesan, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes, plus a little kick from chili flakes. It’s the kind of dinner that feels like you went all out, even if you made it on a random Tuesday.

The standout move here is a light flour dredge. It helps the chicken cutlets brown beautifully, and it also helps the sauce thicken just enough to cling to every bite. Once you try marry me chicken, you’ll understand why it’s such a fan-favorite.

Why You’ll Love This Marry Me Chicken

Table of Contents show
  • Better than restaurant: Creamy sauce, golden chicken, and big flavor.
  • Easy weeknight dinner: Fast skillet cooking, no complicated steps.
  • Cozy date-night vibe: Feels special without being fussy.
  • Sauce for days: Perfect for pasta, rice, or crusty bread.
  • Adjustable spice: Make it mild or add extra heat.
  • Meal-prep friendly: Leftovers reheat well with a splash of water.

Ingredients for Marry Me Chicken

Ingredients for marry me chicken including chicken cutlets, flour, cream, chicken stock, parmesan, sun dried tomatoes, and herbs
Garlic, parmesan, cream, and sun dried tomatoes make the famous marry me chicken sauce

Chicken

  • Chicken cutlets (from 3 large chicken fillets): Thin cutlets cook quickly and stay juicy.
  • Salt (1/2 teaspoon) + black pepper (1/4 teaspoon): Simple seasoning that lets the sauce shine.
  • All-purpose flour (6 tablespoons): Light dredge for a golden crust and slightly thicker sauce.

Sauce

  • Olive oil (2 tablespoons) + unsalted butter (2 tablespoons): Flavor base for browning and sauce.
  • Garlic (3 cloves, minced): Makes the sauce taste bold and cozy.
  • Chicken stock (1 cup): Deglazes the pan and builds savory flavor.
  • Heavy cream (1 cup): Makes the sauce rich and silky.
  • Parmesan, grated (1/2 cup): Adds salty depth and thickens the sauce.
  • Chili flakes (1 teaspoon): Warm heat (reduce if you like it mild).
  • Dried oregano (1/4 teaspoon) + dried thyme (1/4 teaspoon): Classic herb flavor.
  • Sun dried tomatoes, chopped (1/3 cup): Sweet-tangy bites throughout.
  • Fresh basil (1 tablespoon): Bright finish right before serving.

Helpful aside: Don’t use light cream here. Heavy cream thickens the sauce the best and helps it stay smooth.

Marry Me Chicken Recipe Step-by-Step

Four-panel collage showing dredging cutlets, searing, making cream sauce, and simmering chicken with sun dried tomatoes
Dredge, sear, build the creamy sauce, and finish the chicken—done in 25 minutes
  • 1. Dredge the chicken: Season cutlets with salt and pepper. Lightly dredge in flour, shaking off the excess. Don’t stack them or they’ll stick together.
  • 2. Sear until golden: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown cutlets 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover.
  • 3. Build the sauce: Add garlic to the skillet and cook 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in chicken stock and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • 4. Make it creamy: Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and parmesan. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  • 5. Season and finish: Add chili flakes, oregano, and thyme. Stir in sun dried tomatoes. Return chicken to the skillet and simmer a few minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
  • 6. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle basil over the top and serve warm over pasta or rice. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of stock or water until silky.

Tips for Perfect Marry Me Chicken

  • Don’t overcrowd the pan: Brown in batches for the best crust.
  • Scrape the browned bits: That’s where the flavor is.
  • Keep the heat gentle after adding cream: Prevents the sauce from breaking.
  • Grate parmesan fresh: Smoother melt and better flavor.
  • Adjust spice: Use 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes for mild.

Variations & Substitutions

  • Add spinach: Stir in a handful at the end until wilted.
  • Add mushrooms: Sauté mushrooms after the chicken, then continue.
  • Dairy-light: Half-and-half works in a pinch, but expect a thinner sauce.

Storing & Reheating

  • Fridge: Store in a sealed container up to 3 days.
  • Reheat: Warm gently on the stove or microwave. Add a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
  • Freezer: Creamy sauces can turn grainy when frozen, so freezing isn’t my favorite for this one.

Serving Suggestions & Pairings

  • Pasta (plain, garlic butter, or orzo)
  • Rice or mashed potatoes
  • Roasted asparagus or broccoli
  • Crusty bread for dipping

Reader Review: I made this for date night and we were obsessed. The sauce was so creamy and the sun dried tomatoes made it taste fancy.

If you make this marry me chicken, leave a rating and comment. Are you keeping it mild or going extra spicy?

Leave a Comment