Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
Relish in the flavors of major Tuscan flavors with my Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken recipe! Using homemade Tuscan seasoning, heavy cream, sundried tomatoes, white cooking wine, parmesan, hints of lemon flavor, and kale, this decadent chicken dish comes together in a flash, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. Even the kids will love this creamy chicken! Dairy-free + Vegan options.
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When I think easy weeknight meals, I instantly think of chicken and anything that I can make in one pan. Don't you? This Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken recipe fits both those bills (oh there's a soup form---'Marry Me’ Tuscan Chicken Gnocchi Soup that's a MUST), and then some, believe me. It's packed with deeply rich and savory flavors from jammy tomatoes, herbs and a fragrant Tuscan herb blend. Plus, it's creamy, juicy, and full of flavor in every bite. Try this Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread as a delicious side or this Creamy Pesto Chicken Breast with Broccoli or Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts recipe as your next weeknight dish! And if you're a lover of gnocchi, then you'll love this oven-baked Garlic Chicken Broccoli Gnocchi Recipe!
If you have chicken breasts (or any other part of the chicken that's your fave) in your freezer right now, start defrosting because you're going to want to make this for dinner tonight. Plus, I have this Baked Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi and Healthy Weeknight General Tso's Chicken which are completely a delish alternatives! And if you love this Marry Me chicken recipe then you'll love this Creamy Lemon Herb Parmesan Chicken, One Skillet Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo, and Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi Soup.
This is a one-pot meal, so cooking and clean-up are as easy as can be. Simply sear the seasoned chicken breasts (best when marinated overnight) in the skillet, then make the sauce. Finish the chicken inside the sauce so that it cooks all the way through and absorbs all of the wonderful Tuscan flavors. My creamy chicken is perfect served with gnocchi (as pictured), mashed potatoes, rice, pasta, veggies, or your favorite side dish.
Be sure to see this beauty (and other recipes) come to life via IG Reels for a nice visual!
Overall, this creamy chicken dish is definitely family-friendly, comfort food in a bowl, includes simple steps, and can totally be personalized based on preference----i.e. sub with your favorite side dish or eat without meat by subbing things like mushrooms, tofu, cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, etc.
Why is it Called Marry Me Chicken?
OK, so you're probably wondering why this dish is called Marry Me Chicken, right? I know. Honestly, based on my research, this was a TikTok recipe that went viral and apparently once you eat it, it'll make someone want to marry you. Haha. However, I can totally understand why this concept came to life because it literally is THAT GOOD! Of course, I had to put my own spin on it and add a bit of additional flavors which was the perfect fit.
Jump to:
- Why is it Called Marry Me Chicken?
- What is Marry Me Chicken Made of?
- How to Make Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
- Ingredients for this Creamy Chicken Recipe
- What White Wine is Best in Marry Me Chicken?
- Herb Roasted Tomatoes
- Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Blend
- Best Tips for this Chicken Recipe
- Meatless Options for this Creamy Marry Me Chicken
- What Can I use Instead of Sundried Tomatoes?
- What to Serve Marry Me Chicken With
- Common Q + A's for this Creamy Marry Me Chicken Recipe
- Delicious Chicken Recipes to Try Next!
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
What is Marry Me Chicken Made of?
You're guaranteed to fall in complete love with this Marry Me Chicken recipe---trust me! Traditionally, Marry Me Chicken consists of chicken breasts, parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil. However, for this chicken recipe, I chose to add a nice Tuscan-style twist to things by adding my homemade tuscan blend, garlic, freshly-squeezed lemon juice, tomato paste, cooking wine, and fresh tomatoes, for a rich, flavorful main course.
How to Make Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
This is a very simple recipe, but it does have three components: sundried tomatoes, homemade Tuscan blend, and the chicken itself. Cooking Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken is generally an easy process—in total about 30-35 minutes. You first start by cleaning and washing your chicken pieces to ensure that they are clean and ready to be seasoned. I like to wash my chicken with both vinegar and lemon (or lime) to help keep things clean and sanitized.
Once your chicken is clean, then it’s seasoning time! I’m all about seasoning every “layer” of my food, therefore, the chicken gets direct seasoning and so does the sauce. Let everything marinate for 5-10 minutes, however, marinating your chicken overnight brings about even more flavor. Just store seasoned chicken in a safe, sealable bag like ziplock and add to a less crowded area of the fridge.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter and once fully heated, add the minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes. Add the seasoned chicken and cook on each side until seared, about 3-4 minutes each side. Once brown on each side, add in the remaining ingredients and bring everything to a simmer until the chicken becomes tender and fully cooked through.
Ingredients for this Creamy Chicken Recipe
The ingredients for this creamy chicken dish are important for developing the right flavor notes. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken. You can use chicken breasts or a mixture of thighs and drumsticks, just remove the skin first.
- Herbs + Seasonings. A great addition of flavor that I use to season the chicken. You'll need: salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, parsley, thyme, + garlic powder.
- Butter. Use unsalted butter to control the flavor of the dish. For a dairy-free option, use vegan butter.
- Olive oil. Extra fat to this dish that adds additional flavor.
- Garlic. I recommend fresh, but you could use ½ teaspoon granulated garlic.
- Tuscan seasonings. You can purchase my Tuscan Marry Me Blend for great ease and authentic feel or make your own homemade blend.
- Parmesan cheese. You could also use pecorino romano. For a vegan option, dairy-free cheese shreds tastes great.
- Tomatoes. You can add as many tomatoes as you'd like to fill this dish. I used grape tomatoes, however, heirlooms, roma, etc. works too! Just chop them up into nice bite-sized pieces or make your own roasted tomatoes.
- Tomato paste. This adds additional flavor + color to the dish.
- Chicken stock. Use low-sodium store-bought or make your own.
- Heavy cream. I recommend organic–always! You can sub with full-fat coconut milk/cream for a DF option!
- White wine. Choose a dry wine that you like the taste of. You can omit and sub with more stock.
- Lemon juice. You can use store-bought or freshly-squeeze juice from an actual lemon.
- Kale. Use fresh for best results, but frozen also works! Ensure that it’s chopped.
What White Wine is Best in Marry Me Chicken?
I tend to use a lot of white cooking wine, which is easiest for me. However, I do occasionally add quality white wine to my dishes and I recommend using a dry white wine.
A dry white wine will add the right amount of acidity rather than sweetness, which will better compliment your dish like this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken. In general, any of the following dry white wines work great in this dish:
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines.
Herb Roasted Tomatoes
The herb-roasted tomatoes offer a delicious umami-packed flavor foundation for the creamy chicken dish.
You can make them ahead of time in the oven, then keep the tomatoes in the fridge unit you're ready to make the chicken. They'll stay fresh for up to three days in an airtight container.
Homemade Tuscan Seasoning Blend
Sure, you can find pre-made seasoning blends at the grocery store. But there's nothing like the fresh, customized flavor you get by making your own blend. The herbs and spices in the Tuscan spice mix for this recipe are inspired by the fresh herbs that grow in Italy, mixed with a bit of heat from smoked paprika.
You can Store the seasoning blend in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. Use it on anything from simple roasted vegetables to salad dressing to herb oil for dipping bread.
Best Tips for this Chicken Recipe
Use different cuts of chicken: For this recipe I used chicken breasts, however, chicken cutlets, thighs, and even drumsticks work for this recipe perfectly.
Sauté first: I love to sauté the garlic first and sear the chicken in the same skillet for added flavor. Then add in the sundried tomatoes with a bit of it's oil for a nice burst of flavor.
Marinate chicken overnight: One of the best tips that I give it marinating your chicken overnight (or even for 2 days) in the refrigerator. This is something I've seen growing up in a Jamaican household and it definitely allows the flavors to seep into the meat for better results.
Always use a thick cream: If you're using heavy cream, ensure that it's full-fat just like the coconut milk/cream. Any light version won't thicken the sauce as nicely.
Grated cheese is best: I always recommend purchasing a brick of cheese and freshly-grating it yourself for the creamiest result. If you only have shredded cheese on hand, that's fine, but it doesn't melt as seamlessly as grated cheese.
Meatless Options for this Creamy Marry Me Chicken
While this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken is perfect as is---I definitely wanted to give options for those of you who don't eat meat or just might make this dish more than once and want to switch things up with a meatless option from time to time! Here are a few great ingredients that you can substitute with the chicken in this creamy dish.
Other ingredient ideas include:
- Roasted chickpeas
- Beans (like White beans, Kidney beans, etc.)
- Mushrooms
- Tofu or Tempeh
- Cauliflower
- Roasted veggies (like Broccoli, Asparagus, Cabbage, etc.)
- Vegan meatballs
- Jackfruit
- Other plant-based meat alternatives (store-bought)
What Can I use Instead of Sundried Tomatoes?
If you aren't the biggest fan of sundried tomatoes or just don't have them on hand, here are a few great alternatives for you to choose from so that you can still enjoy this delicious creamy chicken dish:
- Roasted herb tomatoes
- Tomato puree
- Roasted bell peppers
- Canned tomatoes
- Tomato sauce or paste
- Fresh tomatoes
What to Serve Marry Me Chicken With
I like to serve this hearty creamy chicken dish with wintertime sides or something simple + comforting like gnocchi. You can roast up some sweet butternut squash or sweet potato while the oven is on for the tomatoes. Or try these other delicious starchy and fresh sides for chicken like one of the following:
- Vegan Sweet Potato Maple Herb Cornbread
- Spicy Chipotle Sweet Potato Chopped Salad
- Maple Herb Roasted Butternut Squash
- Vegan Garlic Naan Bread
- Stovetop Southern Mac and Cheese
- Vegan Sweet Cornbread
- Creamy Jamaican Rasta Pasta
- Ultimate Vegan Mac + Cheese
- Ultra-Creamy Southern Cheese Grits
Common Q + A's for this Creamy Marry Me Chicken Recipe
Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, it's best when done in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. You'll need to add a bit of heavy cream or chicken stock to re-create the creaminess of the sauce when heating it up. Stir in the added liquid and it should become creamy again.
Absolutely! To make this sauce dairy-free, simply use vegan butter instead of the regular butter. Then swap the cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. And use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
To make this entire dish vegan, simply sub the chicken with other great meat alternatives: Roasted chickpeas, Beans (like White beans, Kidney beans, etc.), Mushrooms, Tofu or Tempeh, Cauliflower, Roasted veggies (like Broccoli, Asparagus, Cabbage, etc.), Vegan meatballs, Jackfruit, or Other plant-based meat alternatives (store-bought).
Although, kale is the most common veggie used in this creamy chicken dish, you can definitely use other greens such as spinach, collard greens, bokchoy, etc. for a nice twist!
When it comes to vegetables, there are so many benefits as we all know. While some veggies pack a greater punch when it comes to nutrients, we’ve curated a special list of our Our Top 12 Favorite Healthy Green Leafy Vegetables! Most of these are super popular while others are under utilized in many dishes. Lettuce Eat, Shall We?
Basically, Tuscan style flavors include a nice array of seasonings + herbs that include rosemary, basil, parsley, thyme with aromatics of onion, garlic, spicy red pepper flakes, black pepper, and lemon/citrus which all plays a role.
Both are rather similar, however, tuscan seasonings have a few additional ingredients. In addition, tuscan flavors are a bit more spicy and peppery than Italian seasonings.
Delicious Chicken Recipes to Try Next!
- Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Soup
- Jerk Whole Roast Chicken
- Spicy Gochujang Chicken Tenders
- Jamaican Pineapple Jerk Chicken
- Authentic Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you.
Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
Ingredients
CHICKEN:
- 2 lbs. organic chicken breasts (You can also use things, drumsticks, etc.)
- 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tsps On Everything All-Purpose Blend (You can purchase my On Everything All-Purpose Blend for authentic flavor or make your own blend----See Notes)
SAUCE:
- 4 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ Tbsps Tuscan Marry Me blend (You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for authentic flavor or make this homemade as well---See Notes)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
- 1 cup organic chicken stock/broth
- 3 Tbsps white cooking wine (You can sub with additional chicken stock/broth)
- ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
- 1 cup freshly-grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon organic tomato paste
- 1-2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved or whole (You can also roast these for the best flavor; See Notes!)
- 1 cup organic kale, chopped
Instructions
SEASON THE CHICKEN:
- In a large bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with the salt and All-Purpose Blend, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
SEAR THE CHICKEN:
- In a large skillet (12-inch) over medium-high heat, add the butter and once fully melted, add the minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add the seasoned chicken and cook on each side until seared, about 3-4 minutes each side. Once brown on each side, remove from skillet and set unto a plate to "rest" while you make the sauce.
TO MAKE THE CREAMY TUSCAN 'MARRY ME' SAUCE:
- In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil until heated.
- Add in 1-2 Tbsps tuscan blend seasonings and salt and stir until well combined. Add in the tomato paste, stirring until combined.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add in the heavy cream, chicken stock, lemon juice, and white wine, stirring until combined. Let it slightly bubble for 1-2 minutes and then add in the grated parmesan, whisking until fully melted and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in the chopped kale and tomatoes, stirring until combined and return the chicken breasts. Let everything simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Stir the sauce occasionally and spoon it unto the chicken breasts as they continue to cook.
- Remove from heat once done.
- To serve, enjoy the chicken with your favorite side (i.e. gnocchi, rice, pasta, veggies, etc.). Garnish with a bit of grated parmesan (for extra cheesy flavor), if desired.
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, it's best when done in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. You'll need to add a bit of heavy cream or chicken stock to re-create the creaminess of the sauce when heating it up. Stir in the added liquid and it should become creamy again.
- GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, collards, or asparagus.
- TUSCAN SEASONING (STORAGE): Any leftover tuscan blend seasoning can be stored in a ziplock bag or jar for later use or used as garnish.
- DAIRY-FREE OPTION: To make this sauce dairy-free, simply use vegan butter instead of the regular butter. Then swap the cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. And use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
- VEGAN OPTION: To see meat alternatives for this dish, see Post!
- SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
- EQUIPMENT: Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken. Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more.
- HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: For extra flavor and taste, you can roast your tomatoes by following my Herb Roasted Tomatoes.
- HOMEMADE TUSCAN BLEND: 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tsps dried parsley, 2 tsps dried basil, 2 tsps dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary, + 2 bay leaves.
Nutrition
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LET US KNOW!
First time trying this recipe. I made it last night for my family. It was absolutely delicious and we loved it.
This chicken is soooooooooooo good.. tastes even better better better following days
. Thank you for this
Hi Grace! Yay!! I'm so ecstatic that you enjoyed this recipe! It really is good as leftovers, so I'm happy you loved it! Thanks so much! 🙂
I made this on Sunday, the original and vegan version (my nephew is allergic to dairy). It was so delicious and satisfying. Thank you, Thank you. I wouldn't change a thing! Until next weekend.
The dish tastes great, although I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong with the sauce, it tends to break and turn oily and not be once as creamy once I add the stock. I've even dabbed the chicken of oil, drained the su dried tomatoes and used a seperate pan for the sauce. any help/ suggestions?
Hi Janessa! I'm so glad to here that you enjoyed this dish! Yes---it has definitely happened to me a few times! I notice that ensuring that the heat is on low helps as well as adding in the cream a little later. The oil separating is usually just the fact that the cream was cooked too aggressively. I hope that this helps! 🙂
I have never used sun dried tomato or kale in my cooking so I was pretty weird while making this but it turned out great. Thank you
Hi Dalya! Thanks so much for your feedback! I'm happy that you enjoyed it! 🙂
about the bay leaves in this recipe. Do the bay leaves get crushed and then added to the Tuscany seasoning, or do they stay whole. I've always used them whole usually only in soups, but take out before serving.
thank you for your assists on this.
Hi Chris! Yes, that's correct----I usually keep them whole and then remove them before serving as well! 🙂
Can you make this recipe with salmon instead of chicken?
Hi Lauren! Absolutely! You can! 🙂
This was definitely a winner! The sauce is incredible and tastes just as good days after. Everyone loved it, I've now made it multiple times and use the Tuscan blend for other recipes!
Hi Kate! Wow---That truly makes me so happy! It definitely is a staple in our house and that Tuscan blend works for so many dishes! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try! 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner and WOW absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much for the recipe, it was truly amazing. You also did a great job outlining the steps and ingredients in a simple and easy to use format. Looking forward to using more of your recipes! Thank you!
Hi Paul! Wow---that makes me so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try! I can't wait to see what other recipes you love! 🙂
This dish was absolutely delicious!your recipe made me look like a star. Everyone at my dinner party was over the moon 🌙 for it. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I was wondering in the picture of your MMC recipe there looks to be little dumplings or something could you please tell me what they are? and again thanks so much. I'm looking forward to cooking another one of your dishes tomorrow.
Hi Rachel! Wow! That truly makes me so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and that it was a success for your dinner party! 🙂 It's truly one of our faves in my house! Yes---of course. I actually shared this chicken with gnocchi, which is what you see pictured!
This was so fun to cook and even more fun to eat!! I think I ate my body weight in this
😂
Hi Chanel! OMGGG! Haha! I love it! So glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
Did you cook the gnocchi prior to adding it to the pan?!
Hi Lauren! I did! Usually, the packaging says to a boil it for a few minutes, then I drain and toss it in with the cooked chicken during the last 2-3 minutes or so! 🙂