Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce (Marry Me Chicken)

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Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner idea. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.

Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 servings

This Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce—aka Marry Me Chicken—will have your partner saying, "I do!" from their first bite. Simply seasoned chicken cutlets are enrobed in a cream sauce that is rich yet light. Antioxidant-rich sun-dried tomatoes bring a tangy earthiness to this dish that gets spicy-sweet undertones from shallots. A sprinkling of parsley at the end adds a complementary hit of fresh herbiness to round the dish out. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what you can replace the white wine with if you prefer.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • You'll only use a 1/2 cup of dry white wine in this recipe, so the rest is for you. A Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay would work well, or any variety you like.
  • You can replace the white wine with an equal amount of low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth plus 1/2 tablespoon of white-wine vinegar or lemon juice for a touch of brightness and acidity to balance out the dish.
  • We prefer oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes because they are more flavorful. To save on time and ingredients, we use some of the oil from the jar to make the sauce, which adds even more flavor to the dish. If you have the dry variety without oil, you can use them too. Just swap in 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil for the oil from the jar.
  • This recipe doesn't include vegetables, but you could add some, like fresh kale, spinach or mushrooms.

Nutrition Notes

  • Like canned and fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes are filled with nutrition and will add to your daily vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium needs for the day. Tomatoes are also rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, particularly the carotenoid lycopene. Lycopene has been shown to help keep the heart and arteries healthy, as well as lower blood pressure and the risk of stroke. It may also help lower men's risk of prostate cancer.
  • Chicken cutlets are simply very thin chicken breasts—and chicken breast is a great source of protein. Without the skin, chicken breast is low in saturated fat, and adds B vitamins and choline, which are necessary for a healthy nervous system.
overhead view of all ingredients on a countertop and in various bowls/dishes

Jen Causey

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken cutlets

  • ¼ teaspoon salt, divided

  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • ½ cup slivered oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus 1 tablespoon oil from the jar

  • ½ cup finely chopped shallots

  • ½ cup dry white wine

  • ½ cup heavy cream

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat sun-dried tomato oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

    overhead view of chicken browning in a cast iron skillet, one chicken cutlet being held by tongs

    Jen Causey

  2. Add sun-dried tomatoes and shallots to the pan. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Increase heat to high and add wine. Cook, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid has mostly evaporated, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and stir in cream, any accumulated juices from the chicken and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper; simmer for 2 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan and turn to coat with the sauce. Serve the chicken topped with the sauce and parsley.

    overhead image of Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

    Blaine Moats

Equipment

Large skillet

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for approximately 3 days. When reheating the cutlets in the cream sauce, use a saucepan over medium-low heat. If the mixture appears too thick, add a couple of tablespoons of water, or you could add broth if available.

  • What are chicken cutlets?

    Chicken cutlets are thinly sliced chicken breasts, usually no more than 1/4 inch thick. Sometimes labeled "thin-cut," they cook through in about 6 minutes, which is why we love them here. If you can't find cutlets, you can make your own by slicing a chicken breast in half horizontally. If they're much more than 1/4 inch thick, you can pound them down with a meat mallet or with a small, heavy pot until they're the right thickness.

  • Can I use chicken thighs instead?

    Yes, you can. Boneless skinless chicken thighs are a good alternative to chicken cutlets. If you're using chicken thighs, be sure to trim them well (they tend to have more fat than breasts). Chicken thighs typically don't come thin-cut, so you can pound them with a meat mallet or a small heavy pot to make them thinner, or just cook them a little bit longer on each side until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F. Please note that using chicken thighs will alter the nutritional profile of the recipe.

  • How do you serve Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce?

    These saucy sun-dried tomato chicken cutlets go with just about anything. For a low-carb meal, serve them over zucchini noodles or cooked spaghetti squash. They're great served over whole-wheat spaghetti or orzo as well. Brown rice or farro would be a welcome addition as would a toasted slice of crusty bread to sop up any leftover sauce.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

324 Calories
19g Fat
8g Carbs
25g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Serving Size 3 oz. chicken & 1/4 cup sauce
Calories 324
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 25g 50%
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 8g 42%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Vitamin A 1030IU 21%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Folate 17mcg 4%
Sodium 250mg 11%
Calcium 51mg 4%
Iron 2mg 9%
Magnesium 43mg 10%
Potassium 532mg 11%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Hilary Meyer,
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working as a freelancer in the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a freelance writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm

Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications, such as Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines, and has edited cookbooks for Dovetail Press and The Taste Curators.

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