Description
A luxurious, restaurant-quality chicken dish featuring a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. This one-pan meal is beginner-proof, requires minimal ingredients, and delivers maximum flavor for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup (150g) sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups (360ml) heavy cream
- 0.5 cup (120ml) low-sodium chicken broth
- 0.5 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Pound thick breasts to an even ½-inch thickness if necessary.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, sauté chopped sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Add heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir well and simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and smooth.
- Return chicken and any juices to the skillet. Nestle chicken into the sauce, cover, and simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from heat, garnish with fresh basil and black pepper, and serve immediately.
Notes
Save the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor. Use fresh Parmesan only, as pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Do not overcook the chicken; remove at 160°F as residual heat will bring it to 165°F. Keep heat low when adding cheese to prevent curdling. This dish is not recommended for freezing as the dairy may separate.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken w
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, sun-dried tomato sauce, creamy chicken recipe, one-pan dinner, easy weeknight meals, 5-ingredient recipes