Marry Me Chicken has become an internet sensation recently, popping up in recipes across food blogs and social media. But what exactly is this dish that sounds like a marriage proposal on a plate? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Marry Me Chicken and what makes it so crave-worthy.
What is Marry Me Chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, tomato-based chicken dish that typically features ingredients like chicken breasts, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, chicken stock, Parmesan cheese, and herbs like thyme or oregano
The name was coined by the food website Delish referring to how incredibly delicious and irresistible this chicken is – it’s so good it just might inspire a marriage proposal!
What Makes Marry Me Chicken So Tasty?
There are a few key components that give Marry Me Chicken its signature flavor
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Tender, juicy chicken: The chicken is lightly breaded or floured and browned, keeping it super moist and tender. Using boneless, skinless chicken breasts is key.
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Savory, garlicky tomato cream sauce: A sauce made with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, and Parmesan provides a rich, full-bodied flavor.
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Herby freshness: Herbs like fresh thyme or oregano add woodsy notes and brightness.
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Cheesy richness: Grated Parmesan offers a hit of umami and enhances the luxurious texture of the sauce.
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Perfectly-balanced flavors: No single flavor overpowers – the tomatoes offer tang, the cream lends luxurious richness, the garlic gives it a punch, and the herbs provide freshness.
What Does Marry Me Chicken Taste Like? Sweet, Savory, & Seductive
The taste of Marry Me Chicken is complex, nuanced, and downright seductive. Each bite yields multiple layers of flavor.
You get the savory juiciness of the chicken, followed by the sweetness of the sun-dried tomatoes and garlic. The fresh herbs offer brightness to cut through the richness. And the cream sauce ties it all together into a luscious, mouthwatering pool of deliciousness.
It’s sweet yet savory, rich but still fresh and herby. The flavors mingle in perfect harmony for an irresistible dinner.
Is Marry Me Chicken Spicy?
Traditional Marry Me Chicken recipes are not spicy. The flavor profile focuses more on the sweet tomato creaminess rather than heat.
However, some variations do incorporate a little kick of spice by adding crushed red pepper flakes or a spicy herb like oregano. The spice level can be adjusted to taste.
What Texture Can You Expect from This Sauce?
The sauce has a luxuriously silky, creamy texture thanks to the addition of cream and Parmesan cheese. Yet it’s not overly thick or heavy.
It effortlessly clings to each tender, juicy morsel of chicken, coating it in flavor. But the sauce also elegantly pools on the plate just begging for some crusty bread to sop it up.
The sun-dried tomatoes offer a pleasant meaty chew to offset the utter creaminess. It’s a beautiful contrast of textures.
What Goes Well with Marry Me Chicken?
This versatile chicken dish pairs perfectly with:
- Starchy sides like mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice to soak up the irresistible sauce
- Fresh green salads or roasted veggies to balance the richness
- Crusty bread for dipping into the sauce
- A crisp white wine, like a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
You could also serve it layered over pasta for a chicken Parmesan feel or over rice for a twist on chicken risotto.
How Do You Cook Marry Me Chicken? Quick & Easy Preparation
Part of what makes Marry Me Chicken so popular is how easy it is to make at home. Here’s a quick overview:
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Cook the chicken: Breaded chicken breasts are seared until golden brown and cooked through. They can be pan-fried or baked.
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Make the sauce: In the same pan, cook garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and herbs. Then add chicken stock, cream and Parmesan and simmer until thickened.
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Combine and serve: Add the sauce to the cooked chicken and let it absorb all the flavors for 5-10 minutes before serving.
That’s it! Simple ingredients come together to make restaurant-worthy chicken in about 30 minutes.
What Occasions Is Marry Me Chicken Good For?
With its romantic name and scrumptious taste, Marry Me Chicken is ideal for date nights, anniversaries or impressing your sweetheart.
But it’s also cozy enough for casual family dinners. The rich, hearty flavors make it perfect for cooler months.
You could even serve it at a bridal or baby shower for a clever thematic tie-in!
Is Marry Me Chicken Healthy?
While authentic Marry Me Chicken is not exactly health food thanks to the cream and cheese, a few simple subs make this dish much lighter:
- Use reduced-fat cream and Parmesan
- Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Boost veggies by adding spinach, zucchini or mushrooms
- Serve over riced cauliflower instead of pasta or potatoes
Portion sizes also play a key role in keeping this dish healthy and balanced as part of an overall diet.
Can You Meal Prep or Freeze Marry Me Chicken?
Yes! The sauce reheats beautifully and absorbs even more flavor into the chicken when made in advance.
You can prep the entire dish ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for 3-4 days. The sauce can also be frozen for months.
When reheating, add a splash of cream or chicken broth if the sauce seems too thick. The key is low, gentle heat to prevent curdling the cream.
What If You Can’t Eat Dairy? Vegan Marry Me Chicken
If dairy is off the table, you can absolutely make a vegan version of Marry Me Chicken.
Substitute the cream for canned coconut milk and use your favorite vegan Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast in place of the real stuff.
You’ll miss out on some of the luxurious creaminess, but it will still have that sweet, herby tomato flavor paired with juicy chicken.
Should You Try This Viral Chicken Dish? Yes!
If you enjoy flavors like chicken Parmesan, cacciatore, or risotto – you will absolutely love Marry Me Chicken.
It takes the best aspects of all of those dishes and combines them into one easy, irresistible creamy chicken sensation.
This viral recipe is sweeping the internet for good reason. The flavors are perfectly balanced, the ingredients are easy to find, and you can have it cooked in under 30 minutes flat.
It makes an elegant date night dinner but is unfussy enough for busy weeknights too. Even picky kids or chicken skeptics will be begging for seconds.
Next time you need a crowd-pleasing chicken recipe that feels like an indulgent treat but doesn’t require hours in the kitchen, give Marry Me Chicken a try. Just don’t be surprised if it earns a few marriage proposals of its own!
Frequently Asked Questions For Marry Me Chicken
You can make the chicken in the same pan as the sauce! Before you start the sauce, coat the chicken in spices and pan-fry it until it’s golden on both sides and cooked all the way through. Remove it, set aside, make the sauce, and then add the chicken back in. The reason I prefer the air fryer chicken is because: 1) I’m able to get a more consistently delicious result – juicy on the inside, golden on the outside every single time – never dry, never overcooked, whereas I find it’s easy to over-cook the chicken when pan-frying. And 2) the chicken can cook in the air fryer while I’m simmering the sauce so it goes a bit faster.
Yes – traditionally, Marry Me Chicken recipes use sun-dried tomatoes. I prefer the juiciness of a “fresh” tomato – real, actual fresh tomatoes would be ideal but in winter times, a can of petite diced tomatoes is a pretty great stand-in. I would NOT use regular diced canned tomatoes as they are larger and more chunky – the petite dice is important in getting everything just right.
Use sun-dried tomatoes, or fresh tomatoes that have been finely diced and drained of excess juices.
This chicken is perfect with mashed potatoes and a side salad. If you don’t have time or energy to make your own mashed potatoes, I like the store-bought mashed potatoes from Target (Good and Gather brand). I put them in a pan in the oven and let them get kind of crisped and golden around the edges and they are legitimately quite good.
In theory, you could cook the sauce and then place chicken breasts in a slow cooker and cover it with the sauce to cook for a few hours. The issue is that you wouldn’t get the textured, golden exterior on the chicken which provides such a nice contrast to the creamy sauce. You could do it, yes. But I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
Simmering the sauce for 10 minutes should reduce its overall volume which will naturally thicken the sauce and concentrate the flavor. (YUM.) This is how I always do it. But if you’re in a hurry or just don’t feel like the sauce is thickening the way you want it to, whisk 1-2 teaspoons of cornstarch into 1-2 teaspoons of cold water and add it to the simmering sauce. It should give it just enough body and thickness to coat the chicken better.
If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, I’d recommend trying this Chicken with Coconut Kale! It has a very similar vibe to this recipe but with a different flavor profile, and is completely dairy-free.
Add Cream, Broth, and Thyme.
Whisk and then let it all simmer up for a while so it can thicken into a nice sauce.
If you’re air frying the chicken, like I do, you can start that now while the sauce cooks.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta! This is that Love potion number 9!#chefkolbykash… #marrymechicken #dinner
FAQ
Is Marry Me Chicken tasty?
The internet-viral Marry Me Chicken has won over the hearts of many with its velvety, creamy sauce that adorns juicy, crisp, and succulent chicken. It is served over buttered noodles and is SO good, it’s said it will make whoever you serve it to want to marry you.
What is Marry Me Chicken made of?
Marry Me Chicken is a dish featuring pan-seared chicken breasts in a creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and herbs, often including basil.
Is Marry Me Chicken soup good?
Marry me chicken is a viral one-skillet dinner that has won the hearts of so many who have tasted it. It’s made of tender chicken in a sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce that is as delicious as it gets.
What flavour is “marry me”?
So what is Marry Me Chicken? Pan-seared chicken thighs bathed in a rich and vibrant cheesy sauce, bursting with the savoury tang of sun-dried tomatoes and the warmth of Italian spices. Hints of garlic and lemon peek through the creamy base, creating a symphony of taste that’s both comforting and surprisingly complex.