Creamy Pesto Marry Me Chicken (Printable View)
Juicy chicken seared and simmered in a creamy basil pesto sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
→ Seasonings
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
→ For Searing
05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
→ Creamy Pesto Sauce
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
08 - 1 cup heavy whipping cream
09 - ½ cup chicken broth
10 - ⅓ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
11 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Garnish
12 - Fresh basil leaves, torn
13 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side until a golden crust forms. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage. Remove from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
04 - Reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring continuously to deglaze the pan and combine all the flavors.
05 - Stir in the basil pesto and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is completely smooth and well blended. Bring to a gentle simmer.
06 - Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over each piece to coat evenly. Cover with a lid, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and the sauce has thickened.
07 - Transfer the chicken to serving plates and spoon the creamy pesto sauce generously over each portion. Garnish with torn fresh basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The pesto adds a herbal depth that makes the classic marry me sauce even more seductive without any extra effort.
- Everything cooks in one skillet, which means you get a restaurant quality meal and still have energy to enjoy the evening.
02 -
- The chicken does not need to be fully cooked after searing because it finishes gently in the sauce and stays much juicier this way.
- If your sauce looks thin after the simmer, just let it go uncovered for another two minutes and it will tighten up beautifully.
03 -
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness before seasoning so nothing dries out while you wait for thicker pieces to finish.
- Let the sauce simmer uncovered for the final minute if you want it extra thick and glossy enough to cling to every bite.