Marry Me Chicken Parmesan (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts in a creamy tomato sauce, dusted with finely grated Parmesan for a rich and elegant dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.3-1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sauce

05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
09 - 1 cup chicken stock (gluten-free if needed)
10 - ¾ cup heavy cream
11 - 2 ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Garnish (Parmesan Snow)

13 - 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, extra finely grated or microplaned
14 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and almost cooked through. Remove and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic, dried oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 additional minute, stirring frequently.
05 - Pour in chicken stock while scraping browned bits from the skillet. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and 2 ounces of grated Parmesan cheese, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer.
07 - Nestle chicken back into the skillet, spoon sauce over pieces, and simmer uncovered for 5-8 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and sauce has thickened.
08 - Swirl in the tablespoon of unsalted butter to enrich the sauce and add a glossy finish.
09 - Transfer chicken to serving plates, spoon sauce generously over each portion, dust with finely grated Parmesan for a 'Parmesan Snow' effect, and garnish with fresh basil leaves as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce is so silky and flavorful that even people who claim they don't like cream will ask for seconds.
  • It looks restaurant-quality but takes less time than scrolling through your phone while waiting for water to boil.
  • The dramatic Parmesan finish turns an ordinary dinner into something that feels intentional and lovely.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the chicken; any moisture will steam instead of sear, and you'll miss that crucial golden crust that makes the dish feel intentional.
  • Add the cream slowly and don't let it boil aggressively, or the sauce can separate; gentle heat keeps everything silky and together.
  • The microplane is your secret weapon for the Parmesan garnish; a regular grater will give you crumbles instead of that ethereal snow effect.
03 -
  • If the sauce breaks or separates, whisk in a splash of cold cream off the heat and it will come back together smoothly.
  • Grating Parmesan directly over the warm dish means it melts slightly and clings instead of sliding off, so add that garnish right before serving.
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