Sicilian Chicken Skillet, The Original Marry Me Chicken
By Lindsay Funston, https://www.delish.com/, Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Sicilian Chicken Skillet, The Original Marry Me Chicken

Chicken breasts are seared until golden brown before being baked in a simple (but extremely satisfying) cream sauce that results in a chicken that's packed with flavor in every bite.

If you're thinking the recipe name sounds familiar, that's because Delish developed the ORIGINAL "Marry Me" chicken that's gone viral on TikTok. The recipe has become such an Internet staple that The New York Times covered the phenomenon (and their version became their most popular recipe of 2023, seven years after I created the OG).

When I created this dish in 2016, I was trying to develop recipes that would fire people up to get in the kitchen. I had produced one of Delish's first truly viral recipes, Tuscan Chicken Pasta (my baby, if we’re being honest), and was hungry for a skillet version that had similar ingredients but was even saucier. With that in mind, I developed a "Sicilian Chicken Skillet", but wasn't sold on the name...until a stroke of genius hit on video shoot day. After we spooned the sauce over the chicken for the last shot, our videographer Chelsea grabbed a fork to try the final result. Once she took a bite, she blurted out, "I'd marry you for that chicken!" and the now-famous name was born.

FMM: "Marry Me" dishes keep popping up. I really do not like the name and do not look at any of these recipes. I finally did a search on the Internet to find out why they keep popping up. This led me to this recipe, which looks pretty good and gets good reviews. Many of the copycat recipes do not bake the chicken at the end, but simply finish cooking the chicken in the sauce on the stovetop.

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Torn fresh basil, for serving

Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 Tbsp. oil. Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper and cook, turning halfway through, until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate.

In same skillet over medium heat, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil. Stir in garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, tomatoes, cream, and Parmesan; season with salt. Bring to a simmer, then return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet.

Transfer skillet to oven. Bake chicken until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part registers°, 10 to 12 minutes.

Arrange chicken on a platter. Spoon sauce over. Top with basil.

YIELDS: 4 SERVING(S)