Lightened-Up Marry Me Chicken (2024)

March 11, 2024 By Steph 2 Comments

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Let’s face it, “Marry Me Chicken” recipes have gone viral and been all the rage as of late, so I had to take a shot at it myself. This lightened-up version still features the same great flavors, but for fewer calories, making it easier to fit into your wellness goals. My version of marry me chicken is easy enough to throw together mid-week, but yummy enough for a special occasion. Flavors include shallots, sundried tomatoes and basil, parmesan cheese for creaminess, all simmered together for a burst of flavor. Serve this dish alongside mashed potatoes to soak up that yummy sauce!

What you’ll need to make this lightened-up marry me chicken

chicken breast
kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
olive oil spray
light butter
shallots
garlic
tomato paste
chicken stock
whole milk
dried oregano
reduced fat cream cheese
grated parmesan cheese
sundried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
fresh basil

How to make this recipe

This recipe is made entirely in one skillet, which makes cleanup a breeze as well! Slice the chicken breasts into 6 thinner pieces. Take a large skillet, and melt 1 tbsp of the light butter in the pan with some olive oil spray. Season the chicken breast pieces on both sides with salt and pepper. Working in batches, brown the chicken on both sides (medium high heat works well here). Set the cooked chicken aside, and then repeat with the remaining pieces.

Once all the chicken is cooked, slice the shallot and mince the garlic. Add more olive oil spray to the pan, and add the sliced shallot. Cook for a few minutes or until tender and slightly caramelized, and then add the minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until just fragrant, and then add the tomato paste. Incorporate it into the other ingredients. Deglaze the pan with the chicken stock, and let it simmer for a few minutes until partially evaporated. Add the cornstarch to the milk, add the milk to the pan and whisk to combine. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes, and basil. Simmer all ingredients and add the chicken back to coat.

What makes this recipe lightened-up?

This recipe uses traditional ingredients, but in specific measurements and amounts that help keep the calories lower than the alternative. Some lower calorie swaps include: using light butter and olive oil spray in place of regular butter and olive oil, using reduced fat cream cheese in place of full fat cream cheese, and using sundried tomatoes not packed in oil.

Lightened-Up Marry Me Chicken

Let's face it, "Marry Me Chicken" recipes have gone viral and been all the rage as of late, so I had to take a shot at it myself. This lightened-up version still features the same great flavors, but for fewer calories, making it easier to fit into your wellness goals. My version of marry me chicken is easy enough to throw together mid-week, but yummy enough for a special occasion. Flavors include shallots, sundried tomatoes and basil, parmesan cheese for creaminess, all simmered together for a burst of flavor. Serve this dish alongside mashed potatoes to soak up that yummy sauce!

5 from 1 vote

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course: dinner,lunch

cuisine: Italian

keyword: marry me chicken

prep time: 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

large skillet

Ingredients

1.5 lbs chicken breast, thinly sliced into 6 pieces
kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper
2 tbsp light butter, divided, used: Land O Lakes light butter with canola oil
olive oil spray
3 shallots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp corn starch
2 oz reduced fat cream cheese
1/2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, dry, not packed in oil
2 tbsp basil, fresh
1/2 tsp dried oregano

Instructions

Thinly slice the chicken breast into 6 pieces.
Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper on all sides.
Melt 1 tbsp of light butter in the skillet over medium high heat along with olive oil spray.
Add half of the chicken to the skillet and cook on both sides until golden brown and cooked through (several minutes).
Set the cooked chicken aside, and repeat this process with the other tbsp of butter, olive oil spray, and remaining chicken pieces.
Slice the shallots and mince the garlic.
When the chicken is cooked and set aside, add more olive oil spray to the pan, and add the shallots to the pan. Cook for a few minutes until tender and slightly caramelized.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Add the tomato paste to the pan and stir to combine with the other ingredients.
Add the chicken broth to the pan to deglaze. Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to pick up the browned bits on the bottom.
Simmer the broth for a few minutes or until it starts to cook down.
Add the corn starch to the milk, and add the milk to the skillet. Stir to combine and allow the milk to simmer in the mixture. Add the dried oregano.
Simmer this mixture for several minutes or until thickened slightly (to your desired consistency) and creamy.
Chop the sundried tomatoes and basil.
Stir in the cream cheese and parmesan cheese, followed by the sundried tomatoes and basil.
Add the cooked chicken pieces back to the pan, and toss to coat. Simmer the chicken in the sauce for a few minutes for all flavors to combine.

Notes

WW Points:

3 WW points per piece with sauce

Click here to track this recipe in the WW app.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetsavoryandsteph or tag #sweetsavoryandsteph!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Kristin says
March 11, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Making this as we speak. How much parmesan? Is 1/2oz correct or is it 1/2 c? thanks!
Reply
Kristin says
March 11, 2024 at 5:28 pm

Amazing! So good! One of my new favorites!
Reply

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Hi, I’m Steph! I am married and a mom of three young children, a boy and two girls.

Here you’ll find healthy recipes by category, lots of lightened up comfort foods (burgers and pasta anyone?). But you’ll also find a lot of European influence in my cooking, as I often take our families’ recipes and rework them.
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