If you're on the hunt for a mouth-watering, easy-to-make dinner that promises to impress, look no further than marry me chicken. For years, this quick and delicious recipe has been capturing hearts and taste buds alike, and for good reason.
Originally created in 2016 by Lindsay Funston, Delish’s original recipe for Marry Me Chicken has garnered fame not just for its rich flavors, but also for its adorable backstory. Funston aimed to develop a skillet version of her Tuscan chicken pasta that incorporated similar ingredients, with a saucier twist. The working title, "Sicilian Chicken Skillet," didn’t quite capture the magic of the dish. It wasn’t until the day of the video shoot when the perfect name revealed itself. After trying a bite of the sumptuous chicken, the videographer exclaimed, "I'd marry you for that chicken!" And thus, “Marry Me Chicken” found its name.
Marry me chicken stands out from other chicken dishes with its saucy allure and easy preparation. Our version coats the chicken in flour before browning to add a lovely texture and help thicken the sauce more quickly. This lets us skip the step of transferring the pan to the oven. Our version finishes quickly on the stovetop, without having to heat up the oven!
Despite its gourmet appearance and taste, this beautiful dinner requires minimal effort. It’s a one-pan dish that delivers robust flavors without requiring a plethora of ingredients or an elaborate cooking process. We’re in love!
Now that you know the backstory and you’ve heard all the hype, you need to know how to make Marry Me Chicken. We’ll take you on a little tour of the dish, but the full detailed recipe instructions can be found below.
Once you have all your ingredients prepped, rub salt and pepper into the chicken breasts, and dust with flour. Then sear the breasts on both sides in melted butter in a hot 12-inch skillet. The goal is to brown the chicken nicely; it will not be fully cooked at this point.
Take the chicken out of the skillet, stir in some garlic, add broth, cream, tomatoes, and red pepper flakes, then bring to a boil.
Add the chicken back to the pan, and simmer until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through. Spoon sauce over each piece of chicken, then top with Parmesan and fresh basil. All that’s left to do is sit back and wait for a proposal!
So, what is marry me chicken made of, anyway? Keep reading for all of the marry me chicken ingredients, and what each one contributes to the dish.
Flour, Salt, and Pepper: Gold Medal™ All Purpose Flour helps coat the chicken to add a crispy texture while also adding thickness to the sauce. Rubbing the chicken with salt and pepper before dusting with flour may sound like an extra step, but it guarantees that the seasoning actually sticks to the chicken, providing better flavor.
Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the best cut for this dish, since they cook quickly, look beautiful, and are easy to slice when it’s time to serve.
Butter: Instead of using olive oil, we used butter to add flavor and color to the chicken.
Garlic: Fresh garlic is a tiny ingredient that provides big flavor in this recipe. Don’t overcook it though – fresh garlic goes from elegant and subtle to harsh and bitter when it gets too dark.
Broth: Our Progresso™ Classic Chicken Broth adds deep chicken flavor to the sauce while also helping to deglaze the pan, grabbing all of the tasty browned bits from the bottom of the skillet and incorporating them into the sauce.
Cream: Heavy whipping cream adds even more luxurious flavor to this simple dish. It’s a secret ingredient for making a decadent sauce in a hurry.
Sun-dried Tomatoes: We chose oil-packed, jarred sun-dried tomatoes since they are more flavorful and have a better texture than the dried version.
Red Pepper Flakes: We added just a touch of heat, but if you (or your guests) like it hot, double up on the red pepper flakes.
Parmesan Cheese: A little cheese adds extra texture and rich, nutty flavor to the finished dish.
Basil: Fresh, sliced basil adds a pop of bright green and a light, herbal anise flavor to the chicken.
These basic ingredients and a skillet are all you need to whip up this quick, stellar dish.
This marry me chicken recipe has a rich yet versatile flavor profile that works well with various sides. You can serve over pasta or rice to soak up all the sauce, and roasted vegetables or a salad round out the meal nicely. We’ve played matchmaker to pair up this beautiful chicken with some tasty sides that are a perfect fit for this easy, romantic dinner.
Cheese-Garlic Biscuits will sop up all that gorgeous sauce. This simple, six-ingredient recipe teams up Bisquick™ with cheddar cheese and garlic powder for a fast and fabulous biscuit side.
Scalloped Potatoes are another saucy dish to pair with your chicken. These homemade potatoes in a creamy white sauce won’t disappoint.
Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots will add layers of sweet and tart flavors to your meal.
Pear and Greens Salad with Maple Vinaigrette is a special salad that looks impressive but takes just a few minutes to prep.
No matter what you serve with your marry me chicken, we think you’ll have a memorable meal that’s guaranteed to impress!
This easy marry me chicken recipe is best served right after it’s made, but if you have leftovers, they can be saved for a few days.
Refrigerating/Reheating Leftovers: Tightly cover and refrigerate cooled chicken and sauce separately, for up to 4 days. Chicken can be placed in resealable food-storage plastic bags, but sauce should be placed in a storage container with a tight-fitting lid. To reheat, cut chicken in 3/4-inch slices, and place on microwavable plate; stir sauce and pour over the chicken. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and microwave on Medium-High (70%) for 1 to 2 minutes or until steaming hot. Oven baking leftovers is not recommended, as the chicken can get tough and the sauce can dry out.
Freezing Leftovers: Do not freeze, as the coating will become soggy and the sauce could break down during freezing and thawing.
Unlike many chicken recipes that tend to be dry or overly complex, this recipe for marry me chicken features succulent chicken in a creamy sauce. If you love this recipe as much as we do, try some more of our most popular chicken recipes.
Caprese Chicken and Orzo Skillet is easy and cheesy. It uses approachable boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but in a completely different way, for a one-pan meal based on pantry staples with a couple of simple upgrades. Canned tomatoes create a sauce for orzo pasta and the chicken cooks right on top of them. Teeny tiny fresh mozzarella pearls melt into oozy deliciousness, and the whole thing gets a fresh basil garnish to finish this quick skillet in style.
Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas fit the bill when you’re in need of a fast and tasty chicken dinner. With just 10 minutes of prep, this baked fajita shortcut uses just one dish, and tastes great, too!
Chicken Marsala coats the chicken in flour, salt, and pepper before browning in oil with mushrooms and garlic. Instead of a creamy sauce, this recipe’s sauce comes from the wine or broth used for deglazing the pan. It’s great served with hot cooked pasta.
Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders is a crispy classic. These homemade tenders skip the deep fryer in favor of the oven. It’s a 30-minute recipe you’ll want to make over and over again.
We’re big fans of all of these recipes, but try them out, and let us know which one is your favorite!
For best browning, don’t move the chicken around too much during cooking. It should only be turned once, and only after the first side is nicely browned.
Other fresh herbs can be used in place of the basil. Try flat-leaf Italian parsley mixed with thyme, tarragon, marjoram, oregano, or rosemary.
| Food Component / Nutrient | Amount | % , Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | 26g | 39% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 64% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | % Value Not Available |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | % Value Not Available |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2&½g | % Value Not Available |
| Omega-3 | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Cholesterol | 195mg | 65% |
| Sodium | 880mg | 37% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 8g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| Soluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Insoluble Fiber | 0g | % Value Not Available |
| Sugars | 2g | % Value Not Available |
| Protein | 55g | % Value Not Available |
| Vitamin D | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Calcium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Iron | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Potassium | 620mg | 18% |
| Vitamin A | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Vitamin C | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Vitamin E | Value Not Available | 6% |
| Thiamin | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Riboflavin | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Niacin | Value Not Available | 110% |
| Vitamin B6 | Value Not Available | 50% |
| Folic Acid | Value Not Available | 4% |
| Vitamin B12 | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Pantothenic Acid | Value Not Available | 20% |
| Phosphorus | Value Not Available | 45% |
| Magnesium | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Zinc | Value Not Available | 15% |
| Manganese | Value Not Available | 10% |
| Selenium | Value Not Available | 60% |
| Copper | Value Not Available | 8% |
| Beta-Carotene | Value Not Available | % Value Not Available |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | ||
