Description
A quick, creamy, and tangy weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a rich sun-dried tomato and Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with minimal active cooking time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (for chicken)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (for chicken)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (about 150g)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (full-fat)
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 100g)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. If thick, pound to ½-inch thickness.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken and set aside, leaving fond in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute to deglaze the pan. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Return chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Simmer on low for 2-3 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not crowd the pan when searing chicken to ensure a good crust. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent it from becoming grainy. Use low-sodium broth to control salt levels. The sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently with a splash of milk or cream.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 40
Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, sun-dried tomato sauce, cream sauce, quick dinner, weeknight meals, chicken breast recipes, Italian comfort food