Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken
Looking for a flavorful + rich weeknight meal to enjoy with the entire family? Look no further----this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken is just the thing!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time35 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Keyword: chicken, creamy, dairy-free, dinner, easy, family-friendly, kid-friendly, lunch, parmesan, savory, tuscan, weeknight, weeknight meals
Servings: 2 servings
Calories: 1840kcal
CHICKEN:
- 2 lbs. organic chicken breasts (You can also use things, drumsticks, etc.)
- 2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
HOMEMADE TUSCAN BLEND:
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tsps dried parsley
- 2 tsps dried basil
- 2 tsps dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
SAUCE:
- 4 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 5-6 organic sundried tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
- 1 cup organic chicken stock/broth
- 3 Tbsps white cooking wine (You can sub with additional chicken stock/broth)
- ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
- 1 cup freshly-grated parmesan
- 1 ½ Tbsps Tuscan blend
- 1 tablespoon organic tomato paste
- 1-2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved or whole (You can also roast these for the best flavor; See Notes!)
- 1 cup organic kale, chopped
SEASON THE CHICKEN:
In a large bowl, add your freshly cleaned + rinsed chicken along with the salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, parsley, garlic powder, and thyme, mixing everything together until chicken is fully coated. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
SEAR THE CHICKEN:
In a large skillet (12-inch) over medium-high heat, add the butter and once fully melted, add the minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the seasoned chicken and cook on each side until seared, about 3-4 minutes each side. Once brown on each side, remove from skillet and set unto a plate to "rest" while you make the sauce.
TO MAKE THE CREAMY TUSCAN 'MARRY ME' SAUCE:
In the same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil until heated.
Add in 1-2 Tbsps tuscan blend seasonings and stir until well combined. Add in the sundried tomatoes and tomato paste, stirring until combined.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly add in the heavy cream, chicken stock, lemon juice, and white wine, stirring until combined. Let it slightly bubble for 1-2 minutes and then add in the grated parmesan, whisking until fully melted and sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
Add in the chopped kale and tomatoes, stirring until combined and return the chicken breasts. Let everything simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
Stir the sauce occasionally and spoon it unto the chicken breasts as they continue to cook.
Remove from heat once done.
To serve, enjoy the chicken with your favorite side (i.e. gnocchi, rice, pasta, veggies, etc.). Garnish with a bit of grated parmesan (for extra cheesy flavor), if desired.
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, it's best when done in the oven, microwave, or on the stovetop. You'll need to add a bit of heavy cream or chicken stock to re-create the creaminess of the sauce when heating it up. Stir in the added liquid and it should become creamy again.
- GREENS: To add a bit more flavor to this dish, you can always feel free to add in your favorite greens such as spinach, broccolini, collards, or asparagus.
- TUSCAN SEASONING (STORAGE): Any leftover tuscan blend seasoning can be stored in a ziplock bag or jar for later use or used as garnish.
- DAIRY-FREE OPTION: To make this sauce dairy-free, simply use vegan butter instead of the regular butter. Then swap the cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. And use your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese or nutritional yeast instead of parmesan.
- VEGAN OPTION: To see meat alternatives for this dish, see Post!
- SPICES/HERBS: If desired, you can reduce the amounts slightly. Please know that this recipe is bold in spice/herb flavor, so feel free to adjust based on your tastebuds.
- EQUIPMENT: Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Creamy Tuscan 'Marry Me' Chicken. Everything from my fave baking sheet, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more.
- HERB ROASTED TOMATOES: For extra flavor and taste, you can roast your tomatoes by following my Herb Roasted Tomatoes.
Calories: 1840kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 121g | Fat: 136g | Saturated Fat: 69g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 44g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 596mg | Sodium: 2710mg | Potassium: 2578mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 9867IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 968mg | Iron: 12mg