This tasty 30 minute skillet chicken in creamy sun dried tomato sauce recipe has bold and rich garlic, parmesan, and herb flavors that will leave you craving more!
Meal planning for this week? Here are more recipes to add to your repertoire: Best Baked Chicken Thighs, Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Fried Rice, French Onion Chicken, and Mango Salsa Chicken.
THIS SAUCE. That’s all I really have to say about this recipe. This rich, creamy, cheesy, sun dried tomato and garlic herb sauce is a big fat slice of heaven on earth and your weeknight chicken game will never be the same after you try this goodness. If you haven’t had sun dried tomatoes before…they’re really incredible. You can purchase them at any grocery store, usually near the olives.
This 30-minute chicken dish is easy enough to throw together for any busy weeknight, yet impressive enough to wow company and become a go-to for special occasions.
Why This Recipe Works
Just a few words on what makes this dish a real winner!
Sun dried tomatoes — in case you didn’t get the jist above, I’m in love with them! I discovered the beauty of sun dried tomatoes a while back in a salad I had at a restaurant. While I initially remember thinking that sun dried tomatoes sounded iffy to me, I ended up finishing the dish wishing I had a whole bowl full of sun dried tomatoes by themselves to devour.
One skillet — I’m the biggest fan of using as few dishes as possible and this chicken dish checks that box. Not only is it delicious but everything cooks up in just one big skillet!
Chicken thighs — With a deeper, richer taste than chicken breasts, I think chicken thighs are perfect in this dish and really balance out the flavors of the sun dried tomatoes. Of course, you can totally use boneless, skinless chicken breasts if you like as well.
Easy pantry ingredients — Grab some herbs from your pantry, some half-and-half from your fridge, a little butter, some garlic, those tomatoes, and chicken and you’ve got yourself an easy, on-skillet chicken dish you’ll make again and again.
Here’s How You Make It
Making this one-pan chicken recipe is really so easy!
- In a large skillet (I love my cast iron) over medium heat, melt the butter then add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a platter and cover it to keep it warm while you make the sauce.
- Next, add to the pan the garlic, Italian seasoning, sun dried tomatoes, chicken broth, half and half or heavy cream, and ⅔ cup parmesan cheese to the pan and stir to combine. Bring all of this to a boil and keep stirring periodically until the sauce is thickened and creamy, or about 5-7 minutes.
- Finally, add the chicken back to the pan and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Top the dish with salt, cracked black pepper, grated parmesan, fresh thyme or basil, and serve.
Ideas for Serving This Chicken Dish
There are so many delicious ways you can serve this dish. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Make your favorite pasta and drain. Add a piece of chicken, then ladle on some of that fabulous sauce. Top with more freshly-grated parm if you want and serve alongside a warm, homemade breadstick.
- Add the chicken and sauce on top of white, brown, or your favorite rice mix. Serve with a roasted vegetable like this popular broccoli recipe.
- Eat the chicken by itself (with plenty of sauce on top) and serve with an easy Italian side salad on the side.
- Serve with mashed potatoes on the side or with the chicken and sauce spooned over it — delish!
Expert Tips
- Don’t forget to drain that oil. You’ll have an oily clumpy sauce if you don’t. The oil keeps the tomatoes moist and lends a bold flavor, but you don’t need it in this recipe.
- However, if you buy sun dried tomatoes not in oil, you’ll need to hydrate them first before using or they will be too tough and chewy. To do this, put the ½ cup of sun dried tomatoes in a heatproof bowl or large glass measuring cup. Add about 1 cup of water to the tomatoes. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and let them stand until the skins can be cut or pierced. Drain the water off the tomatoes and pat them dry before cutting and using them in the sauce.
- If you’re looking to add something into this sauce, some great ideas include: pine nuts (¼ cup), walnuts or cashew pieces (¼ cup), a squeeze of lemon, a cup of kale or spinach (let it wilt in the pan before serving), or some red pepper flakes or other hot sauce you like.
More Simple Dinner Recipes
Skillet Chicken in Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken thighs - (I used boneless skinless), or 4 chicken breasts pounded to even thickness
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning - OR ½ teaspoon each dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme
- ½ cup juliened sun dried tomatoes - (they come in a jar packed with oil, be sure to drain excess oil)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup half and half - or heavy cream, (use heavy cream for a thicker, creamier sauce!)
- ⅔ cup shaved or shredded parmesan cheese + ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese for topping - (or more to taste)
- fresh basil or thyme, for topping
- salt and pepper to taste - (I use about 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a platter and cover to keep warm while you make the sauce.
- Add garlic, Italian seasoning, sun dried tomatoes, chicken broth, half and half or heavy cream, and 2/3 cup parmesan cheese to pan and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and continue to stir periodically until thickened and creamy (5-7 minutes).
- Return chicken to pan and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Top with salt, cracked black pepper, grated parmesan cheese, fresh thyme or basil, and serve.
Notes
- Don’t forget to drain that oil. You’ll have an oily clumpy sauce if you don’t. The oil keeps the tomatoes moist and lends a bold flavor, but you don’t need it in this recipe.
- However, if you buy sun dried tomatoes not in oil, you’ll need to hydrate them first before using or they will be too tough and chewy. To do this, put the ½ cup of sun dried tomatoes in a heatproof bowl or large glass measuring cup. Add about 1 cup of water to the tomatoes. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and let them stand until the skins can be cut or pierced. Drain the water off the tomatoes and pat them dry before cutting and using them in the sauce.
- If you’re looking to add something into this sauce, some great ideas include: pine nuts (¼ cup), walnuts or cashew pieces (¼ cup), a squeeze of lemon, a cup of kale or spinach (let it wilt in the pan before serving), or some red pepper flakes or other hot sauce you like.
Ohhhhhh the flavor! Amazing! Had the sauce thickened despite my attempts to get it to I would have rated a 5 plus! Thank you!
The flavor was amazing but The sauce was thin. Idk what I did wrong 🤷
This was delicious!!
Excellent! In addition to the regular recipe, I added a small diced onion and one finely chopped celery stalk. I sautéed those in a little butter and olive oil and then deglazed the pan with a splash of dry white wine. Then, I added the chicken stock, minced garlic and a mix of fresh and dry herbs. I had fresh parsley and rosemary on hand, so that was nice in addition to the dry Italian herb mix. To speed up the process, I browned the chicken in my cast iron skillet, while making the sauce in a sautée pan. I realize that I lost the added benefit of a one pan clean-up and the extra flavor of the little bits that add to the sauce, so next time, I will deglaze the pan and add the drippings. But, this way, the onion and celery softened and cooked while I made the chicken. I didn’t add the half and half until the end, right before the chicken was ready, so that the cream sauce didn’t boil–only the broth boiled and the half and half was added when all the other ingredients were soft and ready. This is definitely a recipe that will become part of my regular rotation. Delicious!
I gave this a try tonight. Huge success!
I used my own sun dried tomatoes from our garden last year.
I was hoping for for some leftovers. My lady friend made her lunch with them.
I also made fresh fettuccine to go with it.
Can I subsitute the half and half with full cream milk?
I think that might work!