Description
Marry Me Chicken is a rich and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender chicken cutlets smothered in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, chili flakes, and fresh basil. This comforting meal comes together quickly, perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced lengthwise into thin cutlets
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and black pepper. Lightly coat each piece in flour, shaking off any excess to ensure an even but light coating.
- Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken cutlets and sear them for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside to rest.
- Sauté the garlic: Lower the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Create the sauce base: Pour in the chicken stock while scraping the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits. Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, chili flakes, and dried thyme. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until it thickens slightly.
- Add tomatoes and basil; combine with chicken: Mix in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. Return the seared chicken cutlets to the skillet, spooning the creamy sauce over the top. Simmer everything together for 4 to 5 minutes until the chicken is heated through and well coated with the sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle extra fresh basil over the dish before serving. Enjoy warm over your choice of pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious creamy sauce.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase the amount of chili flakes slightly.
- Ensure not to overcook the chicken as thin cutlets cook quickly and can become dry.
- Using freshly grated Parmesan cheese will give the sauce a richer flavor compared to pre-grated.
- This dish pairs beautifully with garlic bread or a crisp green salad for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
