Marry Me Chicken Parmesan Snow (Print view)

Tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with a delicate Parmesan finish.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approx. 1.3–1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sauce

05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
07 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 4.2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
09 - 1 cup chicken stock (gluten-free if required)
10 - ¾ cup heavy cream
11 - 2¼ ounces freshly grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Garnish (Parmesan Snow)

13 - 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, extra finely grated or microplaned
14 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry, season both sides evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and nearly cooked through. Remove and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes to skillet; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes into skillet and cook an additional minute to release flavors.
05 - Pour in chicken stock, scraping browned bits from skillet base. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan, bringing mixture to a gentle simmer.
07 - Nestle chicken breasts back into skillet, spoon sauce over them. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and sauce thickens.
08 - Swirl in unsalted butter to enrich sauce with gloss and smooth texture.
09 - Plate chicken, spoon sauce generously, then dust each portion with finely grated Parmesan snow. Garnish with fresh basil as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-fancy but comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can actually pull it off on a random weeknight.
  • The creamy sun-dried tomato sauce clings to chicken in a way that feels indulgent without being heavy.
  • That Parmesan snow isn't just for show—it's the finishing flourish that makes people remember the meal.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the chicken—wet chicken steams instead of sears, and you lose the whole foundation of flavor that makes this dish sing.
  • The cream can split if the heat is too aggressive, so once it's in the pan, keep things at a gentle simmer and stir occasionally.
  • Grate the Parmesan for garnish right before serving; if it sits, it starts clumping and loses that ethereal snow effect.
03 -
  • The microplane is worth owning if you eat Parmesan regularly—it creates that fluffy, delicate snow that a box grater simply cannot match.
  • Save a ladleful of cooking liquid before you add the cream in case you need to thin the sauce later; it's better than adding cream and making it richer than you intended.
Go Back