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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 romantic dinner 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!
It’s love at first bite with these romantic Valentine’s Day dinners. Elegant scallops, flavorful steaks, and more impressive meals will have your sweetheart swooning in no time.
The Best ‘Marry Me Chicken’ Recipe
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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
Nancy Mock for Taste of Home
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 top. Serve marry me chicken immediately! Looking for more? Learn how to make chicken with garlic sauce.
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.
Sides to Serve with Marry Me Chicken
Taste of Home
Roasting red potatoes is one of my favorite way to prepare them. Some fragrant rosemary, fresh or dried, gives these potatoes a distinctive but subtle taste. This dish is simple to prepare, yet elegant in color and flavor. It's a wonderful addition to any menu. —Margie Wampler, Butler, Pennsylvania
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