Marry Me Valentine Chicken
This "Marry Me Chicken" is the ultimate romantic dinner: juicy golden-brown chicken breasts simmered in a luxuriously creamy sauce packed with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and parmesan. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s the perfect one-pan meal to impress your Valentine.
Ingredients
The Chicken:
- 2 large chicken breasts sliced horizontally into 4 thin cutlets
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour for dredging, optional but recommended
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or oil from the sun-dried tomato jar
- 1 tablespoon butter
The "Marry Me" Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, for a little heat
Garnish:
- Fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken cutlets dry. Season them generously with salt and pepper. Pro-Tip: Lightly dredging them in flour here will help create that golden crust and thicken the sauce later.
- Sear to Gold: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken (do not crowd the pan) and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for just 1 minute until fragrant. Do not burn the garlic!
- Deglaze & Simmer: Pour in the chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the "fond" (the browned bits) from the bottom of the pan—this is where the flavor lives. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Build the Cream Sauce: Lower the heat to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
- Melt the Cheese: Whisk in the Parmesan cheese, oregano, thyme, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Marry the Flavors: Return the cooked chicken (and any juices on the plate) back into the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and let it heat through for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from heat. Garnish immediately with fresh basil. Serve hot over pasta or with crusty bread.
Notes
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: check your pantry—this dish relies on them for that signature tangy sweetness.
- Make it "Valentine's": If you want to be extra cute, you can use kitchen shears to cut the larger sun-dried tomato pieces into little hearts before adding them to the sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove (add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much in the fridge).
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!