This One Pan Marry Me Chicken is a cozy, creamy chicken dinner made with juicy skinless chicken thighs, fresh tomatoes, garlic, white wine, chicken broth, and heavy cream. It has that rich, smoky, slightly tangy creamy sauce that makes every bite taste like a restaurant-style date night dinner.
This marry me chicken recipe is the kind of dish people joke could lead to a marriage proposal or wedding bells, but really, it’s just an easy one-pan dinner with simple ingredients and big flavor. The end result is tender, saucy chicken in a cream-based sauce that’s perfect with pasta, rice, green beans, or crusty bread.
If you love recipes that require minimal effort, you are also going to love my Creamy Tomato Garlic Pasta Recipe, Creamy Pesto Pasta & my Creamy Sausage Pasta!! These are dishes the entire family are sure to enjoy!
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Ingredients
- Chicken thighs
- Butter
- Cherry tomatoes
- Garlic cloves
- Tomato paste
- Dry white wine
- Sweet balsamic glaze
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions & Video
Sear the chicken thighs on both sides until fully cooked through!
Make the marry me sauce!
Add the chicken back in!
Serve & enjoy!!
- In a small bowl, mix the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, and parsley seasoning. Pat the skinless chicken thighs dry, then season both sides of the chicken generously.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken until golden brown on both sides and fully cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F. Remove the seared chicken from the pan and let the chicken rest.
- Lower to medium heat and add the tbsp butter to the same pan. Use a silicone spatula to scrape the bottom of the pan and lift up all those savory flavors.
- Add the fresh tomatoes and minced garlic. Season with a little bit of salt and pepper, then cook for 3-4 minutes, until the tomatoes soften.
- Stir in the tomato paste, then pour in the white wine, balsamic glaze, and chicken broth. Let the savory sauce come to a low simmer.
- Reduce to medium-low heat and stir in the heavy cream. Add the chicken back into the rich sauce and spoon the cream sauce over the top. Simmer for a few minutes, then serve warm.
Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card!:)
Substitutions
- Chicken thighs → skinless chicken breasts, tender chicken breasts, or chicken cutlets
- Chicken broth → chicken stock
- Heavy cream → lighter creams, cream cheese, or coconut cream
- Cherry tomatoes → fresh tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes
- Dry white wine → extra chicken broth
- Smoked paprika → Italian seasoning
- Add-ins → red pepper flakes, fresh basil, parmesan cheese, or mozzarella cheese
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Cutting board
- Silicone spatul
Storage
- Store leftover Marry Me Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warm. If the creamy sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water, chicken broth, or heavy cream to loosen it.
- I do not recommend freezing this creamy chicken dish because the sauce can separate once thawed.
Top tips for Success
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning so the sides of the chicken get a better golden brown sear.
- Don’t skip scraping the bottom of the pan after searing the chicken. That’s what gives the sauce its rich flavor.
- Keep the sauce at a low simmer after adding the heavy cream so the cream-based sauce stays smooth.
FAQ
Yes. You can use skinless chicken breasts or chicken cutlets. For the best end result, do not overcook them, and use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
This saucy chicken recipe is perfect with chicken pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, green beans, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy parmesan-style sauce.
Yes, this is similar to Tuscan chicken, especially if you add sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, or fresh basil. This version of Marry Me Chicken is a little smoky, creamy, and super easy for a weeknight dinner.
Related
Looking for other easy recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite desserts to serve with this recipe:
One Pan Marry Me Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, and dried parsley seasoning.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry, then season them generously on both sides with the spice mixture.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and sear on both sides until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the butter. Once melted, scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and minced garlic. Season with a little salt and pepper, then cook for 2–3 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to soften.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Pour in the dry white wine, balsamic glaze, and chicken broth. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir in the heavy cream until the sauce becomes rich and creamy.
- Add the chicken thighs back into the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. Let everything simmer together for another 3–5 minutes.
- Serve warm with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread.
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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