Description
This Baked Marry Me Chicken recipe features juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts baked in a luscious creamy tomato sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. Offering a special yet easy weeknight dinner option, this dish skips the fuss of frying and delivers rich, comforting flavors topped with Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 breasts, 8 oz each)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small handful fresh basil, thinly sliced
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (double concentrated if available)
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained (if packed in oil)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and position the oven rack in the upper third space to ensure even cooking from the top.
- Prepare Chicken. Lay the chicken breasts side-by-side in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Evenly season them on all sides with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for a uniform flavor base.
- Make Sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, chicken broth, tomato paste, cornstarch, dried oregano, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined. Stir in the drained sun-dried tomatoes to add texture and tanginess.
- Pour Sauce over Chicken. Carefully pour the prepared creamy sauce around the chicken breasts in the baking dish, ensuring the sauce surrounds the chicken but does not drown it.
- Bake Chicken. Bake the dish uncovered in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Begin checking at 30 minutes to avoid overcooking, as oven performance and thickness of chicken may vary.
- Finish and Garnish. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Gently stir the sauce to mix. Spoon the sauce generously over each piece of chicken. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese and sliced fresh basil on top for added flavor and a fresh finish.
- Rest and Serve. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes to let juices redistribute. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary before serving.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- If sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain them well to avoid thinning the sauce excessively.
- For a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes according to preference or omit for a milder flavor.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings, using a larger baking dish and adjusting the baking time accordingly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
