Introduction

High-Protein Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful dish packed with tender chicken cutlets and a rich tomato-basil sauce. This recipe combines savory sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and fresh herbs for a meal that’s both comforting and satisfying.

High-Protein Marry Me Chicken Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients

3/4 cup chicken bone broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole milk cottage cheese
2 tablespoons chopped sun-dried tomatoes (from about 4 tomato halves)
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon tomato paste
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken cutlets
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for serving

Instructions

Step 1: In a blender, puree the chicken bone broth, heavy cream, cottage cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and tomato paste until smooth. Season the sauce with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Step 2: Pat the chicken cutlets dry and season all over with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle both sides evenly with flour and Italian seasoning, pressing gently to adhere.
Step 3: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken cutlets in batches if necessary, turning halfway through, until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Reduce heat to medium-low and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the chopped garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 5: Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, add the torn basil leaves, and cook while spooning sauce over the chicken until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
Step 6: Divide the chicken among plates and top with additional Parmesan and fresh basil before serving.

Tips & Variations

For extra creaminess, blend in a little cream cheese with the cottage cheese before pureeing.
Use fresh sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for more intense flavor.
Serve with a side of sautéed greens or over cooked pasta to make it a complete meal.
Swap bone broth for chicken stock if you don’t have broth on hand.

Storage

Store leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat to avoid drying out the chicken, adding a splash of broth if needed to loosen the sauce.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of cutlets?

Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but you may need to pound them to an even thickness for even cooking and reduce the cooking time slightly.

Is this recipe suitable for freezing?

This dish can be frozen, but the sauce may separate slightly upon thawing. Freeze cooked chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently.

High-Protein Marry Me Chicken Recipe

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4.4 from 67 reviews

High-Protein Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, flavorful skillet dish featuring tender chicken cutlets simmered in a rich sauce made from chicken bone broth, cottage cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and fresh basil. This protein-packed recipe combines savory and tangy elements with a hint of spice, perfect for an impressive yet easy weeknight dinner.

Author: Dylan
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Fat

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce Ingredients

3/4 cup chicken bone broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole milk cottage cheese
2 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes (from about 4 tomato halves)
2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1 tsp tomato paste
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Chicken Ingredients

4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken cutlets
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for serving

Instructions

Prepare the sauce: In a blender, combine chicken bone broth, heavy cream, whole milk cottage cheese, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and tomato paste. Puree until the mixture is smooth. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Season the chicken: Pat the chicken cutlets dry with paper towels. Season all sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Evenly sprinkle the all-purpose flour and Italian seasoning over the cutlets, pressing gently with your fingers to make the coating adhere well.
Brown the chicken: Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding, add the chicken cutlets and cook until they are browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes per side. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Sauté aromatics: Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low and melt the unsalted butter. Add the finely chopped garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring frequently and scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Simmer chicken in sauce: Return the browned chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Pour the blended sauce over the chicken. Add the torn fresh basil leaves. Cook the chicken while spooning the sauce over it, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
Serve: Divide the chicken cutlets among serving plates. Top each with extra grated Parmesan cheese and additional torn basil leaves for garnish. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Using chicken cutlets ensures quick, even cooking and tender meat.
The cottage cheese adds protein and creaminess while keeping the sauce lighter than traditional heavy cream sauces.
You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced in half horizontally if cutlets are unavailable.
Use fresh basil for the best flavor; dried basil will not provide the same brightness.
For a spicier kick, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to 1/2 teaspoon.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and gently reheated on the stovetop.

Keywords: Marry Me Chicken, high protein chicken recipe, creamy chicken skillet, sun-dried tomato chicken, easy weeknight chicken, basil chicken