Name: Healthy Marry Me Chicken (Dairy Free, Paleo)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Paleo
Ingredients: 1/4 cup cashew pieces; 1 cup water, for blending the cashews to make cashew cream; 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half to make thin cutlets; 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon sea salt; ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (use some of the oil from the sundried tomatoes for extra flavor); 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onion; 4 garlic cloves minced; 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, sliced into strips; 5 ounces baby kale, coarsely chopped; 1/2 cup stock or water; 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast; fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade (optional)

Table of Contents

What Is Marry Me Chicken?

Marry Me Chicken is a popular dish of chicken in a creamy sauce that’s said to be so delicious it can inspire marriage proposals. It’s usually made with heavy cream, sun dried tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.

I’ve adapted the recipe to make it healthier but just as delicious. To make it dairy free, I use cashew cream instead of heavy cream. Don’t worry, it’s very easy to make. Instead of parmesan I use nutritional yeast. It has a nice ‘cheesy’ flavor. I’ve also added baby kale to give the dish more nutrients.

In this Healthy Marry Me Chicken you still get the same rich and creamy sauce that will make you swoon, (or get a marriage proposal), but it’s oh-so-much healthier.

Why I Love This Dish

You’ll say good-bye to boring chicken with this recipe. Juicy chicken is nestled in a diary-free creamy sauce. It’s so good everyone will love it.

an exciting chicken dish for the family or entertaining
healthy, flavorful and satisfying
a one pan dish you can make in 30 minutes
full of nutrient rich kale
lots of protein
dairy free, gluten free, paleo, Whole30 compliant

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients can be found in most supermarkets. This is what you need:

Chicken Breasts – I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into thin cutlets. Often you can buy them already cut. You could also use chicken thighs if you prefer. Get Certified Humane.
Italian Seasoning -This spice is a mixture of oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary. It’s available in most markets. You could also make your own mix of your favorite Italian spices.
Garlic and Onion -There’s plenty of garlic in this dish to give lots of flavor. Onions add sweetness. Any onion is good or even shallots.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil – These have a sweet, tangy, and slightly salty, flavor with a chewy texture. They make the dish special. The best flavor is when they are packed in olive oil.
Kale – This green leafy vegetable brings the dish together and provides vitamins A, C, and K, fiber and antioxidants. Eating vegetables makes us healthier. Baby kale is nice and tender. You can substitute regular kale, spinach or Swiss chard.
‘Cashew Cream’ – Instead of heavy cream we’re using cashew cream. It’s made in a blender with cashews and water, (included in the recipe). You could use coconut milk which will be a little thinner or coconut cream.
Nutritional Yeast – Instead of parmesan we’re using nutritional yeast to get a cheesy flavor. It’s a golden yellow powder made from deactivated yeast with a cheesy, nutty, umami flavor, full of B vitamins including vitamin B12. Read more about it’s health benefits.

How To Make Healthy Marry Me Chicken

Here are the basic steps for making this recipe. Details are in the recipe card below.

Step 1 – Start by soaking the cashews. Soak in boiling water for 10-15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients.

Step 2 – Season and cook the chicken. Season the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat the oil and sear the chicken on both sides for 3-4 minutes until golden. Then transfer to a plate.

Step 3 – Saute the aromatics and sun dried tomatoes. In the same skillet, saute the onions until softened. Add the garlic and sun dried tomatoes, cook until fragrant.

Step 4 – Blend the Cashews – While the onions are cooking, drain and rinse the cashews and blend with 1 cup fresh water for 3 minutes. This is your cashew cream. Set aside.

Step 5 – Add the kale to the sun dried tomatoes and saute for 2-3 minutes until until just starting to wilt. Use tongs to mix in the kale. It might seem like a lot but it will reduce once wilted.

Step 7 – Make the ‘cream’ sauce – Add the cashew cream, stock, and nutritional yeast, stir together, and bring to a simmer.

Step 8 – Return the chicken back to the skillet, cook until heated through. It only. needs a few minutes, the sauce will thicken as it cools.

What To Serve With Marry Me Chicken

This is a complete meal on it’s own, but it’s also good with these sides:

My favorite side is zucchini noodles. Give the noodles a quick saute or serve them raw. The warm sauce will heat them up.
It’s good with cauliflower mash potatoes or traditional mashed potatoes.
Cauliflower rice, traditional rice or quinoa are also good options.

More One Pan 30 Minute Dishes

In these dishes the protein and vegetables are cooked together in one pan. Each recipe comes together in 30 minutes or less and clean-up is easy.

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