Marry Me Chicken One Pot Recipe
INTRODUCTION
Marry me chicken one pot recipe delivers viral sensation where seared chicken breasts swim in luxurious sun-dried tomato cream sauce so delicious it supposedly inspires marriage proposals, simplified into single-skillet preparation eliminating multiple pans. This easy marry me chicken maintains signature creamy parmesan sauce studded with tangy sun-dried tomatoes while streamlining technique—chicken sears creating fond, aromatics build flavor base, then cream sauce simmers around chicken keeping meat incredibly moist throughout cooking. The strategic one pot method produces restaurant-quality results in just 30 minutes using simple ingredients that combine into extraordinary dish greater than sum of parts. This recipe joins our collection of easy one pot meals proving viral recipes become weeknight-accessible through smart simplification.
WHY MARRY ME CHICKEN WORKS
The brilliance of this marry me chicken lies in perfect balance where rich cream sauce meets bright acidity from sun-dried tomatoes and lemon, preventing heaviness while parmesan adds savory depth and fresh basil provides aromatic lift. Searing chicken first creates flavorful fond stuck to pan bottom that dissolves into cream sauce enriching entire dish, while finishing chicken in gentle simmer rather than aggressive heat keeps meat tender and juicy. The combination of cream, chicken broth, and parmesan creates naturally thick sauce without flour-based roux, coating chicken beautifully while sun-dried tomatoes provide concentrated umami sweetness and vibrant color. Red pepper flakes add subtle warmth balancing richness, creating complex flavor profile that explains this recipe’s romantic reputation and viral popularity across social media platforms.
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Marry Me Chicken One Pot Recipe
Viral marry me chicken where seared chicken breasts simmer in luxurious sun-dried tomato parmesan cream sauce so delicious it supposedly inspires marriage proposals.
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1.5–2 lbs)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed), chopped
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil from jar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Extra parmesan for serving
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
- Pound to even thickness if thicker than 1 inch.
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken 5-6 minutes until golden-brown.
- Flip and sear second side 4-5 minutes.
- Transfer chicken to plate.
- Reduce heat to medium, add sun-dried tomato oil.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes, stir 30-60 seconds.
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, stir 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth.
- Scrape up browned bits from pan bottom.
- Add thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to gentle simmer, reduce to medium-low.
- Simmer 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat temporarily.
- Stir in parmesan cheese until melted smoothly.
- Stir in butter until melted.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Return to medium-low heat.
- Nestle chicken into sauce.
- Simmer gently 8-10 minutes, spooning sauce over chicken.
- Check chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature.
- Remove from heat, stir in lemon juice and basil.
- Serve with extra parmesan.
Notes
- Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking
- Pat chicken dry for best sear
- Don’t skip searing – creates flavorful fond
- Remove from heat before adding parmesan to prevent graininess
- Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for best flavor
- Red pepper flakes add warmth balancing richness
- Lemon juice brightens rich cream sauce
- Fresh basil essential for authentic flavor
- Sauce thickens as it cools
- Freezing not recommended for cream sauces
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One Pot Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1 chicken breast with sauce)
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 685 mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 165mg
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
Chicken:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5-2 lbs)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for searing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce:
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed) chopped
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil from jar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
Finishing Touches:
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves torn
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice for brightness
- 2 tablespoons butter for richness
- Extra parmesan for serving
- Fresh parsley chopped (optional)
FOOLPROOF ONE POT METHOD
Chicken Preparation & Searing: Pat chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels removing surface moisture that prevents proper browning. If chicken breasts are thick (over 1 inch), pound to even thickness using meat mallet or rolling pin between plastic wrap—this ensures even cooking preventing dry exteriors before interiors reach safe temperature. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika. Heat olive oil in large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and nearly smoking. Add seasoned chicken breasts without crowding, working in batches if necessary. Sear undisturbed 5-6 minutes until deep golden-brown crust develops and chicken releases easily from pan. Flip chicken and sear second side 4-5 minutes until golden—chicken doesn’t need to cook through completely as it finishes in sauce. Transfer seared chicken to plate and set aside.
Sun-Dried Tomato Base: Reduce heat to medium and add sun-dried tomato oil from jar to skillet with chicken drippings. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly 30-60 seconds until garlic becomes fragrant but not browned—burnt garlic creates bitter taste. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes to skillet, stirring to combine with garlic and allowing tomatoes to warm through and release flavor into oil, about 1 minute. The concentrated tomatoes provide tangy-sweet foundation contrasting beautifully with rich cream sauce coming next.
Cream Sauce Building: Pour heavy cream and chicken broth into skillet, stirring to combine with sun-dried tomato mixture and scraping up all browned bits stuck to pan bottom—this fond adds concentrated savory depth to sauce. Add dried thyme, additional salt, and black pepper, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly. Bring mixture to gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to medium-low maintaining steady gentle bubbles. Allow sauce to simmer 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it begins thickening slightly from reduction. Remove skillet from heat temporarily—this prevents parmesan from becoming grainy or stringy when added to excessively hot liquid.
Parmesan Integration: Add grated parmesan cheese to warm (not boiling) cream sauce, stirring constantly with wooden spoon or whisk until cheese melts completely and integrates smoothly creating unified sauce. The parmesan thickens sauce naturally while adding nutty, salty depth that defines marry me chicken flavor profile. Stir in butter allowing it to melt and add silky richness to sauce. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed—sauce should be well-seasoned and flavorful on its own.
Chicken Finishing: Return skillet to medium-low heat and nestle seared chicken breasts into cream sauce, spooning sauce over exposed parts of chicken. Simmer gently 8-10 minutes, occasionally spooning sauce over chicken, until chicken cooks through completely reaching internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) when tested with instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part. During this gentle simmer, sauce continues thickening while chicken stays incredibly moist and tender absorbing sauce flavors. If sauce becomes too thick, add splash of chicken broth or cream to reach desired consistency. Once chicken finishes cooking, remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and torn fresh basil leaves—these bright elements balance rich cream sauce preventing heaviness.
CREATIVE SERVING AND STORAGE
Serving Suggestions: Serve marry me chicken immediately by placing chicken breast on plate and generously spooning sun-dried tomato cream sauce over top. Garnish with extra torn basil, grated parmesan, and fresh parsley if using. This rich dish pairs beautifully with crusty bread for soaking up incredible sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, pasta, or fluffy rice. Simple green salad or roasted vegetables alongside provide fresh contrast to luxurious cream sauce. This impressive dish works perfectly for romantic dinners, special occasions, or whenever craving restaurant-quality comfort that lives up to its marriage-proposal-inspiring reputation.
Storage Guidelines: Store leftover marry me chicken with sauce in airtight container refrigerated up to 3 days. Cream sauce may thicken and appear slightly separated when cold—this is normal. Reheat gently on stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently and adding splash of cream or chicken broth to restore smooth consistency and prevent curdling. Microwave reheating works but requires attention, heating in 1-minute intervals while stirring between to ensure even heating without drying chicken. Freezing not recommended as cream-based sauce separates upon thawing creating grainy, broken texture.
CONCLUSION
This marry me chicken one pot recipe demonstrates how viral sensation becomes weeknight-accessible through streamlined single-skillet technique maintaining signature sun-dried tomato cream sauce that earned dish its romantic reputation. The strategic cooking method where chicken simmers gently in luxurious sauce produces restaurant-quality results impossible when components cook separately, delivering tender meat coated in rich parmesan cream balanced perfectly by tangy tomatoes and fresh herbs. Whether impressing dinner guests, celebrating special occasions, or simply treating yourself to extraordinary weeknight dinner, this reliable recipe proves that viral favorites welcome home cooks seeking maximum flavor with achievable technique. For more inspiring single-pot dinners, explore our complete collection of easy one pot meals featuring pasta variations, chicken dishes, beef meals, and comforting soups.
