Savor each bite of Marry Me Chicken; pan-fried chicken thighs simmered in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese. Make anyone fall in love with this marry me chicken recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Looking for more chicken skillet recipes? Try French Onion Chicken Thighs and Skillet Chicken with White Beans and Kale next.
This content contains affiliate links which helps WhisperofYum.com to provide free recipes. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for support of the blog, Whisper of Yum!
This easy marry me chicken recipe is a dish full of flavor and texture. Lightly floured chicken thighs are fried to crispy, golden brown perfection. Then we whip up a cheesy cream sauce that’s so irresistible, you’ll be able to win over anyone’s heart with a plateful!
Why This Recipe Works
- Great For Any Occasion – Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or a casual family dinner, marry me chicken is the perfect entree.
- Easy to Customize – Use a different cut of chicken, or swap ingredients for the sauce. Tailor this recipe to perfectly suit your taste buds.
- Goes With Everything – Make this a one pot meal, prepare marry me chicken pasta, or serve it with creamy mashed potatoes. You have options and all of them are tasty!
What is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken involves pan-searing chicken breasts or thighs until they’re golden brown and cooked through. Then, a creamy sauce is made in the same pan using ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and various herbs and spices such as basil, oregano, and thyme.
The cooked chicken is placed back into the pan and simmered in the sauce until it’s heated through and well-coated with the flavorful mixture. The result is a rich and savory dish with a combination of creamy, tangy, and herby flavors.
But where does the name come from? The belief is that the chicken is so good, that it will make someone propose marriage right at the dinner table! The recipe gained popularity across social media but especially on TikTok.
Tools You’ll Need
Marry Me Chicken Ingredients
The chicken may be the star of the show but the sauce is the heart of this recipe. Made with fresh herbs, cheese, and tomatoes, it’s drool-inducing.
For the Chicken
- Chicken thighs – Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Seasoning – Season the chicken with a simple mix of kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and garlic powder.
Dredge
- All-purpose flour – Applying flour to the chicken thighs ensures a crispy crust.
- Kosher salt – Add to taste.
For the Sauce
- Avocado oil – Use this to sauté the aromatics.
- Unsalted butter – Use unsalted so the finished dish isn’t too salty.
- Aromatics – Shallots and minced garlic are a delicious foundation for flavor.
- Fresh thyme – This infuses the sauce with warm, earthy, and slightly peppery flavor. Remove the stems and chop.
- Red pepper flakes – This adds a nice kick of spice.
- Chicken broth – This deepens the savory chicken taste.
- Heavy cream – This enriches the sauce and makes it super smooth.
- Sun-dried tomatoes – They have a concentrated, rich, and slightly sweet flavor. Remember to drain the oil then chop it up.
- Parmigiano reggiano – Use freshly grated cheese, not pre-shredded.
- Fresh basil – Add chopped for garnish.
For Serving
- Mashed potatoes or pasta
How To Make Marry Me Chicken
Start by pan searing the dredged chicken thighs then remove them from the pan to build your sauce. Add them back in to simmer and then you’re all set!
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 30 minutes prior cooking.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Combine flour and salt, whisk to combine, then dredge chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Melt together the avocado oil and butter, then add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy and the internal temp reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet, keep covered and set aside.
4. Add the shallot and garlic to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, being careful to not let them brown. Add the thyme and red pepper flakes and stir for 1 minute, until fragrant.
5. Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a steady simmer over medium heat and cook until the liquid reduces slightly, 3–5 minutes.
6. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce thickens slightly. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for 4 minutes, or until warmed through.
8. Garnish with the basil and serve marry me chicken with mashed potatoes or pasta.
Tips and Tricks
- Leave the chicken out at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. This helps it cook at an even rate.
- Add the chicken to an already hot skillet. This is how the chicken crisps up.
- Stick to heavy cream or another full-fat milk. The sauce needs some thickness and low-fat milk won’t cut it.
- Use freshly grated cheese, not pre-shredded. Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well and sometimes has a grainy texture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of water if the sauce has gotten too thick.
Variations
- White Wine – Some recipes include dry white wine instead of chicken stock. It adds depth of flavor and a touch of acidity to balance the taste of the ingredients.
- Cheese – Although I love the sharpness of parmesan, you can use another cheese. Mozzarella cheese melts down well for an extra cheesy dish.
- Chicken – If you opt for chicken breasts, slice them in half or pound them with a meat mallet. This cuts down the cooking time and ensures the meat cooks evenly.
What to Serve with Marry Me Chicken
- Mashed Potatoes – Want a hearty chicken dinner? Then you have to serve this dish with these Best Mashed Potatoes or Herbed Mashed Potatoes.
- Pasta – Serve marry me chicken over a bed of spaghetti or linguine.
- Spinach – Add fresh spinach in the last 5 minutes for an easy one pan meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is marry me chicken made of?
Marry me chicken is made with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, Parmigiano Reggiano, and chicken broth.
Are marry me chicken and Tuscan chicken the same thing?
Although the two dishes are often referenced interchangeably, they are not the same. Tuscan chicken includes ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, and sometimes olives and artichokes. Whereas marry me chicken is known for its creamy, cheesy sauce. The ingredients are similar but not quite the same and the cooking methods for each may vary.
Can I make marry me chicken in a slow cooker or instant pot?
Yes. To slow cook marry me chicken, sear the chicken and sauté the ingredients in a skillet. Then transfer them to the slow cooker and cook on low for 2-3 hours.
For the Instant Pot, brown the chicken on the sauté setting. Then remove the chicken and add the remaining ingredients (besides the heavy cream and cheese) to the pot and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Release the pressure, stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Finally, add the chicken back.
Looking for More Chicken Recipes
- Teriyaki Chicken Bowl
- Copycat Chipotle Chicken
- Lemon Chicken Skewers
- Chimichurri Chicken
- Crispy Chicken Cutlets with Tonnato Sauce
Loving this Marry Me Chicken Recipe?
There’s a reason this Marry Me Chicken thighs recipe is loved by all! Leave a comment below and share your love for this recipe on Instagram and Pinterest. We love to see you get down in the kitchen. Thank you for supporting Whisper of Yum and happy eating!
Marry Me Chicken
Equipment
- Medium Skillet
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1½ pounds chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- garlic powder, to taste
Dredge
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup diced shallot
- 2½ tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1½ teaspoons fresh thyme, stems removed, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained and chopped
- ½ cup parmigiano reggiano, freshly grated, do not use pre-shredded
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
For Serving
- Mashed potatoes or pasta
Instructions
- Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 45 minutes prior cooking.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Combine flour and salt, whisk to combine, then dredge chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Melt together the avocado oil and butter, then add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy and the internal temp reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet, keep covered, and set aside.
- Add the shallot and garlic to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, being careful to not let them brown. Add the thyme and red pepper flakes and stir for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a steady simmer over medium heat and cook until the liquid reduces slightly, 3–5 minutes.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce thickens slightly. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for 4 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Garnish with the basil and serve with mashed potatoes or pasta.
Sheryl says...
My favorite marry me chicken recipe. Paired it with mashed potatoes like you suggest. These thighs have so much flavor!
Jeri Mobley-Arias says...
Thank you, Sheryl!