Marry Me Chicken Best Version Ever | Balukome Review

So good it’ll make everyone want to marry you… that’s really how good Marry Me Chicken is! And even if you’re not in the market for a proposal, your diners will certainly love you a little bit more after you’ve dished this beauty of a chicken dinner up.

I’ve been wanting to try create my own version of this recipe after it was all over Pinterest for years, then later went viral on TikTok. But where would I start with Marry Me Chicken?!

I looked at maybe 20 versions online, and according to Today, the name for this chicken-in-a-vaguely-Italian-style-cream-sauce was coined by American food publication Delish, because it was even better than Ina Garten’s much-loved ‘Engagement Roast Chicken’ recipe (national foodie treasure in the US).

All of the recipes had in common using chicken, cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan. I made a couple of tweaks for my version, which, dare I say, make it even better?! Please try it and let me know if you agree!

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Credit MARRY ME CHICKEN {BEST VERSION EVER!}

MY TAKE ON MARRY ME CHICKEN:

⭐️ I’ve added sun-dried tomatoes earlier in the process so they kind of melt a little into the sauce. I tested both ways and this felt much tastier than adding later.

⭐️ I used oregano rather than thyme, as I feel the light flavor works better here.

⭐️ I coated the chicken breasts in flour to thicken the sauce slightly (not all of the recipes I looked at do this).

⭐️ I used the juice of half a lemon at the end, just to ‘lift’ the sauce from being too rich. Do taste it yourself and decide if you feel you need it.

WHAT ELSE I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MARRY ME CHICKEN!

As a modern-day feminist, I’m not entirely sure about the title of this recipe. Are we still saying that marriage is the ultimate goal in life?! To be honest, the chicken is so good that I’m not going to get bogged down with what is essentially a catchy title to try and convey just how delicious this pan-fried chicken dish is.

AND ANOTHER THING!… I’m not normally a huge fan of cream sauces as they can be so heavy, but this uses one small pot of cream and the impact is huge. Really – it’s so worth it.

MARRY ME CHICKEN INGREDIENTS

Chicken breasts – Skinless and boneless.
Plain flour
Olive oil
Garlic – Fresh or shortcut-type is fine
Sun dried tomatoes
Dried oregano
Paprika
Double cream – Heavy cream in the USA.
Chicken stock– Made from a cube is fine.
Parmesan cheese – Finely grated.
Fresh basil leaves
Lemon – We just want the juice.
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT HERE:

HOW TO MAKE MARRY ME CHICKEN

3. Turn the heat down and add garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, and paprika to the pan. Cook as per the recipe below.

4. Add the cream, stock, parmesan, and salt and pepper. Stir and add the chicken. Put the lid on and cook as per the recipe below.

Hint: Once you’re sure the chicken is cooked through, remove the pan from the heat, sprinkle over the basil and a squeeze of lemon.

WHAT SIDES TO SERVE WITH MARRY ME CHICKEN

LEFTOVERS

In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat fully in the microwave or covered in the oven before serving.

In the freezer, Creamy sauces don’t freeze overly well and the chicken would be a little dry when you’re reheating it from frozen, however, I wouldn’t let it go to waste. If freezing is your best option, do it, but manage your expectations for when you reheat it. Adding it to pasta as a sauce might be nice though.

TOP TIPS

COOKING TIMES

How long your chicken will take will vary on the thickness of the breasts. If in doubt, check your meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked through. (The ideal cooking temperature for chicken is 74°C, according to Thermapen – my go-to thermometer-makers. There’s also more cooking time information here).

IF YOUR SAUCE CURDLES

When you add the lemon juice at the end, the sauce can curdle a little if it’s very hot. If it does, just remove the chicken breasts to serve and give the sauce a good whisk.

ADAPT THIS RECIPE

You can simplify this recipe with a slightly different version – Marry Me Chicken Orzo – it’s a quick one-pot pasta with all the flavours and deliciousness of the original dish!

FAQ

WHAT MAKES MARRY ME CHICKEN SO GOOD?

The combination of pan-frying the chicken as well as simmering it in the sauce gives a delicious golden coating with succulent meat on the inside. The sauce is just the right balance of creamy, zesty and cheesy.

While there’s so much wonderful flavor, it’s also a pretty simple recipe and anyone can make it, which is the ultimate test of how well a recipe is received! No nonsense. Just delicious.

It’s also impressive if you’re cooking a special meal, without much faff or expense involved.

CAN I USE CRÈME FRAÎCHE INSTEAD OF CREAM?

WHAT PAN SHOULD I USE TO MAKE MARRY ME CHICKEN?

CAN I MAKE THIS DAIRY-FREE?

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER RECIPES WITH CATCHY NAMES?