This Easy One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Casserole Recipe is my version of a popular dish known for its creamy and flavorful sauce. It's called "Marry Me Chicken" because it's so delicious that it could potentially lead to a marriage proposal for the cook! While it's unclear where the name originated, the dish has gained popularity on social media and cooking websites.
The main components of Marry Me Chicken typically include boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, fresh garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, cream, and various herbs and spices. The chicken is usually seared until golden brown and then cooked in a sauce made from the other ingredients. The result is a creamy, flavorful dish with a hint of tanginess from the sun-dried tomatoes. The best part is sopping up the extra sauce with a slice of buttery warm garlic bread.
Marry Me Chicken is a tasty, indulgent, yet frugal dish that wins people over for its rich flavors and creamy sauce. I think you'll like it for an everyday dinner or a special occasion, like a marriage proposal!
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INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Chicken - the best choice for this recipe is boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Tomatoes - sundried tomatoes are an integral part of this recipe, but I add a couple of cherry tomatoes or a Roma tomato for freshness.
- Garlic - fresh is best, but in a pinch use garlic powder or garlic salt. If using garlic salt, reduce any other salt in the recipe. You could also use onion powder.
- Cheese - the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, but a mix of cheddar and parmesan cheese introduces a little nuttiness.
- Sour Cream - you can use an equal amount of undiluted condensed soup like cream of chicken instead of sour cream.
- Hot chili - I prefer Fresno chilis for this recipe but they can be hard to find. Next best is Jalapeno. If you don't have fresh, substitute crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Chicken stock - or chicken broth, vegetable broth, or hot water and bouillon cube.
See the recipe card for quantities.
HOW TO MAKE MARRY ME CHICKEN
Rub the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Leave for 20 minutes.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Fry the breasts on high heat on both sides for 5 minutes per side.
Place the chicken in a baking dish. Place chopped garlic and thyme in the pan. Continue to cook for 1 minute.
Cut the sun-dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes into 4 pieces. Add tomatoes and chili circles to the skillet.
Pour in broth, heavy whipping cream sour cream, and cheese. Bring the sauce to a low boil then remove from heat immediately to prevent curdling.
Pour the sauce over the breasts. Cook in the oven for 12 minutes at 375°F. Turn off the heat. Leave the breasts and sauce in the oven for another 7 minutes.
VARIATIONS
Lemon Marry Me Chicken: Add fresh lemon juice and zest to the sauce to give it a bright, citrusy flavor.
Spicy Marry Me Chicken: If you enjoy some heat, you can incorporate delicious flavor with other spicy elements into the dish. Consider adding red pepper flakes, diced jalapeños, or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a spicy kick.
Mediterranean Marry Me Chicken: Give the dish a Mediterranean twist by adding ingredients like Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and fresh oregano. These flavors complement the chicken and sauce beautifully.
Mushroom Marry Me Chicken: For mushroom lovers, sauté some sliced mushrooms along with the garlic and thyme in the recipe and enrich the delicious sauce.
Herb Marry Me Chicken: Experiment with different herbs to create a herb-infused cream sauce. Consider using herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, or parsley to add a fresh and aromatic element to the dish.
Spinach and Artichoke Marry Me Chicken: Add a twist by incorporating spinach and chopped artichoke hearts into the sauce. This variation adds a pop of color and extra texture to the dish.
Broccoli Chicken Casserole: Add broccoli florets, or even green beans to the casserole. Not only does it taste great but it makes the dish more of a complete meal.
EQUIPMENT
So easy! One large skillet is all you need! I prefer non-stick to cast iron for this recipe.
STORAGE
These ingredients do/don't stand up well to freezing, but can be held for one day, refrigerated in an airtight container.
PRO TIP
You can finish the dish in the slow cooker if you are ok with increasing the cooking time. Place the browned chicken breasts in the slow cooker followed by all the sauce ingredients and cook on low until the chicken is fork-tender. I will use this method next time I have one of those busy weeknights. Dinner will cook, then stay warm until we are ready to eat.
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Looking for another great recipe like this? Try these:
Easy One-Pot Marry Me Chicken Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- Large skillet.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- salt
- black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 5 slices chili hot chilies like Fresno or jalapeno or crushed red pepper flakes
- ¾ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons cheddar cheese, grated
- 6 sundried tomatoes
- 4 cherry tomatoes
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Rub the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Set aside for 20-30 minutes.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Fry the breasts on a high heat on both sides for 5 minutes per side.
- Place the chicken in a baking dish. Place chopped garlic and thyme in the skillet. Continue to cook for 1 minute.
- Cut the sun-dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes into 4 pieces. Add tomatoes and chili pieces to the skillet.
- Pour in broth, heavy cream, sour cream, and cheese. Bring the sauce to a low boil then remove from heat and stir to combine ingredients.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts. Cook in the oven for 12 minutes at 375°F. Turn off the heat. Leave the skillet in the oven for another 7 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.
We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.
FOOD SAFETY
See more guidelines at USDA.gov. for the safe handling of raw chicken.
Lathiya says
I loved the name of the recipe..it sounds interesting. I'm looking forward to try this recipe.
Mina says
This is a simple yet tasty recipe. Looking forward making it soon
Cpg says
Creamy and delicious- My family loves this- Ty
Alexandra says
I completely understand the name of this dish - how truly delicious! That sauce is just divine. Great flavours and a meal for the whole family to enjoy (or perfect for date night!)
Andréa Janssen says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I just love a good merry me chicken. And to prepare it in one pot makes it even better!
Padma says
Enjoyed reading the little backstory about them and of this recipe. Lovely, simple ingredients too!