This Marry Me Crispy Chicken is a golden, juicy chicken breast coated in a crispy parmesan crust and drizzled with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce that’s full of flavor. It’s one of those recipes that makes anyone fall in love with your cooking—literally. I like to serve it with buttery mashed potatoes for a cozy, restaurant-style meal that’s still simple enough for a weeknight. The sauce is the star here—rich, tangy, and balanced with just enough heat from paprika and cayenne. Once you try it, you’ll see why it’s called Marry Me Chicken—it’s that good.
What Is Marry Me Crispy Chicken?
Marry Me Crispy Chicken is a twist on the classic creamy chicken dish that went viral for its irresistible sauce. This version adds a crunchy breaded coating to the chicken for a satisfying texture contrast. The sauce combines sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, shallots, basil, and heavy cream, creating a savory, tangy, and slightly sweet balance that coats the crispy chicken perfectly. You can serve it over mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice—it goes with everything.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken
2 chicken breasts
Olive oil
Garlic powder
Paprika
Salt
Black pepper
For the Batter
eggs (whisked with a pinch of salt)
White pepper
½ cup flour
1 cup breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated parmesan
For the Marry Me Sauce
2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
1 small shallot
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp tomato paste
3 tbsp olive oil or oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
¼ cup stock
2 tbsp water
¼ cup heavy cream
A handful of basil
A handful of grated parmesan
Oregano, paprika, cayenne
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Mashed Potatoes
Yellow potatoes
Warm milk (as needed)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Butter
How to Make Marry Me Crispy Chicken
1. Pound and Season the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap.
- Poke small holes with a fork—this helps the marinade soak in.
Pound them evenly with a meat mallet until uniform in thickness.
Season both sides with oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Let them marinate for about 15 minutes.
2. Prepare the Breading Station
In one bowl, add flour.
In a second bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt.
In a third bowl, mix breadcrumbs and grated parmesan, season with salt and white pepper.
Coat each chicken breast in flour, dip in the egg, then coat with the breadcrumb-parmesan mix.
Lightly press the coating so it sticks well.
3. Fry the Chicken
Heat frying oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4–5 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.
Set them on a wire rack to rest while you make the sauce. This helps the juices redistribute and keeps the coating crisp.
4. Make the Marry Me Sauce
Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, shallot, tomato paste, lemon juice, lemon zest, basil, olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water to a blender.
Blend until the mixture turns into a smooth paste.
In a sauce pan, sauté the paste over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until boiling.
Pour in the stock and heavy cream to thin it into a sauce.
Stir in paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), and salt.
Add grated parmesan and stir until it melts and the sauce becomes creamy.
Turn off the heat.
5. Make the Mashed Potatoes
Boil yellow potatoes in salted water until soft.
Drain and pass them through a ricer or mesh sieve for a silky texture.
Mix in cold butter, then gradually add warm milk until smooth and creamy.
Taste and season with salt.
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Serve It Up
Plate your Marry Me Crispy Chicken over a scoop of mashed potatoes. Spoon that creamy sun-dried tomato sauce on top, letting it drizzle over the sides. Add a sprinkle of basil and parmesan to finish. It looks fancy but comes together easily in under an hour.
Why Add Parmesan to Breadcrumbs
Mixing parmesan into the breadcrumbs adds a layer of flavor and helps the coating crisp up beautifully. The cheese melts slightly while frying, creating a golden crust that tastes like garlic bread and chicken combined. It also gives your chicken more body and color, making it feel like something straight from a restaurant.
Tips for the Perfect Marry Me Crispy Chicken
Pound the Chicken Evenly
Even thickness ensures the chicken cooks all the way through without drying out. Uneven pieces tend to burn on the thin side and stay raw in the thick part. Pounding it flat also helps the coating stick evenly.
Rest After Frying
Don’t slice into the chicken right away. Letting it rest for a few minutes keeps it juicy. The resting time allows the juices to redistribute instead of leaking out when you cut it. This small step makes a big difference in texture and taste.
Rest After Frying
Don’t slice into the chicken right away. Letting it rest for a few minutes keeps it juicy. The resting time allows the juices to redistribute instead of leaking out when you cut it. This small step makes a big difference in texture and taste.
Use Sun-Dried Tomato Oil for the Sauce
If your sun-dried tomatoes come packed in oil, use that instead of olive oil for the sauce. It adds a richer tomato flavor and brings a subtle sweetness that balances the cream and lemon.
Adjust the Sauce Thickness
The sauce should be smooth but not too thick. If it tightens up too much, add a tablespoon of stock or water at a time until it reaches the perfect pourable consistency. You want it to coat the chicken without feeling heavy.
Go for Quality Parmesan
Freshly grated parmesan melts better and gives the sauce a smoother texture. Pre-grated ones can make it grainy because of the anti-caking agents. Always add the parmesan at the end, off the heat, for a velvety finish.
FAQ About Marry Me Crispy Chicken
Can I bake the chicken instead of frying?
Yes. Bake at 400°F for about 20–25 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Spray the top lightly with oil for extra crispiness.
Can I use chicken thighs?
Absolutely. Boneless chicken thighs work great, just adjust cooking time as they’re thicker.
What to serve it with?
Mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, or even roasted veggies. The sauce pairs with everything.
Is this similar to Marry Me Chicken?
Yes, but this version has a crispy crust instead of a pan-seared one. It gives an extra layer of texture that makes the dish feel heartier.
Marry Me Crispy Chicken is the kind of recipe that makes weeknights feel special. The crispy coating, creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, and soft mashed potatoes make it a comforting yet impressive meal. It’s easy enough to make for dinner but fancy enough to serve to guests. Once you try it, you’ll understand why everyone falls for this dish.
Marry Me Crispy Chicken
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Black pepper
For the Batter
- eggs whisked with a pinch of salt
- White pepper
- ½ cup flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
For the Marry Me Sauce
- 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 small shallot
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tsp tomato paste
- 3 tbsp olive oil or oil from the sun-dried tomatoes
- ¼ cup stock
- 2 tbsp water
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- A handful of basil
- A handful of grated parmesan
- Oregano paprika, cayenne
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Mashed Potatoes
- Yellow potatoes
- Warm milk as needed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter
Instructions
Pound and Season the Chicken
- Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap.
- Poke small holes with a fork—this helps the marinade soak in.
- Pound them evenly with a meat mallet until uniform in thickness.
- Season both sides with oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Let them marinate for about 15 minutes.
Prepare the Breading Station
- In one bowl, add flour.
- In a second bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt.
- In a third bowl, mix breadcrumbs and grated parmesan, season with salt and white pepper.
- Coat each chicken breast in flour, dip in the egg, then coat with the breadcrumb-parmesan mix.
- Lightly press the coating so it sticks well.
Fry the Chicken
- Heat frying oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4–5 minutes per side, until golden and crispy.
- Set them on a wire rack to rest while you make the sauce. This helps the juices redistribute and keeps the coating crisp.
Make the Marry Me Sauce
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, shallot, tomato paste, lemon juice, lemon zest, basil, olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of water to a blender.
- Blend until the mixture turns into a smooth paste.
- In a sauce pan, sauté the paste over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until boiling.
- Pour in the stock and heavy cream to thin it into a sauce.
- Stir in paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), and salt.
- Add grated parmesan and stir until it melts and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Turn off the heat.
Make the Mashed Potatoes
- Boil yellow potatoes in salted water until soft.
- Drain and pass them through a ricer or mesh sieve for a silky texture.
- Mix in cold butter, then gradually add warm milk until smooth and creamy.
- Taste and season with salt.
