Description
This One-Pot Marry Me Chicken is a creamy garlic dream that lives up to its name. Tender, golden-seared chicken simmers in a luxuriously silky sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan, and garlic. It’s elegant enough for date night yet simple enough for a busy weeknight—ready in about 30 minutes and made in just one pan.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (drained if packed in oil)
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped (lightly packed)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn, for garnish
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts in a single layer and sear for 5–7 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F / 74°C). Remove the chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30–60 seconds, until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon for extra flavor.
- Stir in the heavy cream, then add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted and the sauce has slightly thickened.
- Return the chicken breasts (and any accumulated juices) to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce.
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan evenly over the top. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the chicken simmer for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Garnish with fresh basil just before serving. Serve hot with pasta, rice, or a side salad to soak up the luscious sauce.
Notes
- If your chicken breasts are very thick, slice them horizontally into cutlets for quicker, more even cooking.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth so you can better control the salt level once the Parmesan is added.
- For a slightly lighter sauce, you can swap half of the heavy cream for half-and-half, though the sauce will be a bit thinner.
- If your sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes; if it’s too thick, stir in a splash of broth or cream.
- This dish is best served immediately, but leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days and can be gently reheated over low heat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop, One-Pot
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
Keywords: marry me chicken, one pot chicken, creamy garlic chicken, sun-dried tomato chicken, skillet chicken, easy chicken dinner, 30-minute meal