This One Pan Marry Me Chicken is a comforting, creamy chicken dinner made with juicy skinless chicken thighs, fresh tomatoes, garlic, white wine, chicken broth, and heavy cream. The dish features a rich, slightly smoky and tangy cream-based sauce that gives it a restaurant-quality feel—ideal for an easy date night at home.
This popular marry me chicken recipe is often joked about as being so good it could inspire a marriage proposal, but in reality it’s simply a flavorful, fuss-free one-pan dinner. The result is tender, saucy chicken in a luscious, cream-forward sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, steamed vegetables, or crusty bread for soaking up every drop.
If you enjoy recipes that are simple but full of flavor, you might also like my other easy creamy pasta dishes featured on the site.
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, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, and dried parsley to make the spice mixture. Pat the skinless chicken thighs dry, then rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown on both sides and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C). Remove the chicken and set aside to rest.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add butter to the same pan. Use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan—those add concentrated flavor to the sauce.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and minced garlic, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook for 2–4 minutes until the tomatoes start to soften.
- Stir in the tomato paste, then pour in the white wine, balsamic glaze, and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to meld the flavors.
- Lower to medium-low heat, stir in the heavy cream until the sauce becomes silky, then return the chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over the chicken and simmer a few minutes more to combine. Serve warm.
Scroll to the recipe card below for the full ingredients and exact amounts.
Substitutions
- Chicken thighs → skinless chicken breasts or cutlets (watch cooking time).
- Chicken broth → chicken stock.
- Heavy cream → lighter cream, cream cheese, or coconut cream for a dairy-free alternative.
- Cherry tomatoes → regular tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes for more concentrated flavor.
- Dry white wine → extra chicken broth if avoiding alcohol.
- Smoked paprika → Italian seasoning if you prefer a milder profile.
- Add-ins → red pepper flakes, fresh basil, grated Parmesan, or shredded mozzarella.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Cutting board
- Silicone spatula
Storage
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. If the sauce thickens too much, loosen it with a splash of water, chicken broth, or a little extra cream.
- Freezing is not recommended; cream-based sauces can separate when thawed.
Top tips for Success
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning—dry skin and meat sear better and brown more evenly.
- Scrape the pan after searing to capture those caramelized bits; they add depth to the sauce.
- Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer after adding the cream to avoid curdling and maintain a smooth texture.
FAQ
Yes. Use skinless chicken breasts or cutlets, but avoid overcooking—use a meat thermometer to confirm an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
This saucy chicken is excellent with pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, green beans, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
Yes, it’s similar—especially if you add sundried tomatoes, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, or fresh basil. This version is slightly smoky and very approachable for weeknight cooking.
Related
Looking for other easy, comforting recipes? Try the similar dishes featured below.
- Easy Spicy Carbonara Ramen (10-Minute Recipe)
- The Best Street Corn Pasta Salad with Chicken
- Creamy White Bolognese Sauce (with Rigatoni)
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Ramen (Easy 20-Minute Recipe)
Pairing
Popular dessert choices to follow this meal include fudgy brownies, maple butter treats, or no-bake peanut butter chocolate bars—simple sweets that contrast nicely with the savory cream sauce.
- Fudgy Reese’s Cup Brownies
- Salted Brown Butter Maple Syrup Treats
- No-Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
- Viral Dot Cakes (Dessert Recipe)
One Pan Marry Me Chicken
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 4 chicken thighs (skinless; you can use 6 if needed)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon sweet balsamic glaze
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Cutting board
Method
- Mix the spice ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Pat chicken dry and season both sides with the spice mix.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken until golden and cooked through; remove and set aside.
- Add butter to the pan and scrape up the browned bits.
- Add cherry tomatoes and garlic; cook until tomatoes begin to soften, 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
- Pour in white wine, balsamic glaze, and chicken broth; simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream until sauce is smooth.
- Return chicken to the pan, spoon sauce over it, and simmer 3–5 minutes to combine.
- Serve warm with pasta, rice, potatoes, or crusty bread.
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that touched raw meat.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
- Avoid leaving food at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with an appropriate smoke point for your cooking method to avoid harmful compounds.
- Ensure good ventilation when using a gas stove.
