This Low Carb Marry Me Chicken is the viral recipe that made everyone fall in love with creamy chicken dinners, but reimagined for keto and diabetic friendly lifestyles. It's got everything the original version has (rich sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil) minus the carbs. One bite and you'll understand why it's called "Marry Me" chicken.
This low carb chicken recipe is a one-pan dinner with only 6g net carbs per serving, 20g protein, and ready in just 25 minutes.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Low Carb Marry Me Chicken
🕒 Ready In: 25 minutes
👪 Serves: 4 servings
🍽 Calories: 371 | Protein: 20g | Carbs: 8g | Sugar: 2g | Fiber 2g
🥣 Main Ingredients: chicken breasts, sundried tomatoes
📖 Dietary Info: low carb chicken dinner, gluten free, keto
👌 Difficulty: Easy one-pan meal
Summarize & Save This Recipe On
I've tested this recipe hundreds of times and perfected it for taste and nutrition. The sauce is foolproof, the macros are impeccable, and it takes just 25 minutes.
If you love easy, flavorful chicken dinners, you'll also want to try my Low Carb Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken, Keto Crispy Chicken Thighs, Low Carb Thai Red Curry Chicken and Low Carb Swiss Chicken Casserole.
Jump To:
- A Quick Look at the Recipe
- What is low carb marry me chicken?
- Why is Low Carb Chicken perfect for Low Carb Lifestyles?
- Ingredients Needed
- Step by step instructions
- How to make low carb marry me chicken?
- The key to a creamy sauce
- Recipe Tips
- Ingredient Swaps and Variations
- What to serve with low carb marry me chicken?
- Nutritional Information
- Storage
- Why This Recipe Outperforms Regular Marry Me Chicken
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other low carb dinners you might enjoy
- Low Carb Marry Me Chicken Recipe (The Easy One-Pan Method)
- Recipe Card
What is low carb marry me chicken?
Marry Me Chicken is a creamy, one-pan low carb chicken dinner with pan-seared chicken breasts, Parmesan sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh basil.
The name comes from its reputation for being so delicious it's worth proposing over. Some say it's the beautiful marriage of flavors. Others say it simply tastes incredible.
Why is Low Carb Chicken perfect for Low Carb Lifestyles?
Chicken breast is the foundation of any low carb meal plan. It's lean protein with zero carbs and zero sugar, making it one of the cleanest protein sources you can eat.
What makes chicken ideal for low carb eating:
- Zero carbs per serving (plain chicken)
- 31g protein per 3.5 oz serving
- Fills you up without spiking blood sugar
- Affordable and versatile
- Works with any cooking method
How this recipe compares to traditional Marry Me Chicken:
- Regular version: 25-35g carbs per serving (from pasta or bread)
- This low carb version: 6g net carbs per serving
- Same restaurant taste, fraction of the carbs
Why the sauce matters: This recipe adds a creamy Parmesan sauce without derailing your carb count. Most creamy sauces use flour or heavy pasta bases. This one uses cream and cheese, keeping carbs minimal while delivering maximum flavor.
Ingredients Needed
Most Marry Me Chicken recipes are good, but this version has two secret ingredients that elevate it from standard to spectacular: briny green olives and crumbled bacon. These additions add depth, salty complexity, and texture that make people ask what makes your version taste so much better.
- Chicken Breasts: Sliced in half lengthwise for even cooking and more surface area for browning.
- Garlic and Onion: Minced fresh garlic builds the aromatic foundation. Diced small onion provides sweetness and body to the sauce.
- Chili Flakes: Brings subtle heat and complexity.
- Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs that instantly adds that restaurant-quality Italian taste without extra ingredients.
- Chicken Broth: The liquid base that creates the sauce.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: The richness that makes this dish creamy. High fat content prevents the sauce from breaking.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated fresh Parmesan melts smoothly into the sauce and adds nutty, umami flavor.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Concentrated tomato flavor that balances the cream. Adds tartness and complexity.
- Green Olives: Briny, salty flavor that most versions skip. These add Mediterranean authenticity and depth.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon garnish adds savory, smoky richness and texture contrast. Not optional for the final dish.
- Fresh Basil: Bright, herbaceous finish that ties everything together. Always use fresh, added at the end.
- Sun-Dried Tomato Oil: The secret ingredient. Infuses the pan with concentrated flavor and helps keep the cream sauce silky smooth.
- Olive Oil, Salt and Black Pepper
* See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Step by step instructions
How to make low carb marry me chicken?
- Step 1: Sear the chicken.
- Step 2: Build the flavor base.
STEP 1: Sear the Chicken - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Slice each breast in half lengthwise for even cooking. Sear 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
STEP 2: Build the Flavor Base - In the same pan, sauté diced onion and minced garlic until tender (2-3 minutes). Stir in chili flakes and Italian seasoning for 30 seconds. Add sun-dried tomato oil.
- Step 3: Create the cream sauce.
- Step 4: Finish and serve.
STEP 3: Create the Cream Sauce - Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat (do NOT boil). Add grated Parmesan and stir constantly until melted and smooth (1-2 minutes). Add sun-dried tomatoes and green olives. Mix through.
STEP 4: Finish and Serve - Return chicken to the pan. Simmer 2-3 minutes until heated through. Serve immediately. Garnish with crumbled bacon, fresh basil, and extra Parmesan if desired.
The key to a creamy sauce
Most low carb creamy chicken sauces break. This one stays silky smooth when you understand three things: temperature, timing, and why each ingredient matters.
Why Sun-Dried Tomato Oil Matters
The oil acts as an emulsifier that helps bind the cream and broth together. It also infuses the pan with concentrated flavor before cream is added. Without it, your sauce tastes plain. With it, people ask what your secret is.
After you sauté garlic and onion, let the broth simmer 2-3 minutes before adding cream. This reduces the broth slightly and cools it just enough so cream won't break. Add cream to a rolling boil and it curdles. Add it to a gentle simmer and it incorporates smoothly.
How to Prevent a Curdled Sauce
Both split and curdled sauces happen for the same reason: heat is too high when cream is added.
Prevention:
- Keep heat at medium-low once cream is added
- Stir constantly for the first 2 minutes after adding cream
- Never boil once cream is in the pan
Recipe Tips
- Dry Chicken: Chicken breast is lean. It dries out fast over 165°F. Remove chicken at 160°F internal temp (it rises 5 degrees as it rests). Use an instant-read thermometer. Don't guess.
- Bland Flavor: Missing sun-dried tomato oil. This oil is the secret. Without it, sauce tastes like plain cream.
- Sauce is Too Thin: You didn't let the broth and cream reduce. Next time: After adding chicken broth, let it simmer 5 minutes uncovered before adding cream. Extra evaporation concentrates flavors and thickens the sauce.
- Sauce is Too Thick: Add 2-3 tablespoons chicken broth and stir. Thin it out to your preference.
- Green Olives Made the Sauce Too Salty: Olives are salty. Taste the sauce before serving. Don't add extra salt during cooking.
- Flavor Tastes Off: Forgot the chili flakes or Italian seasoning? These build complexity. Don't skip them.
Ingredient Swaps and Variations
- Bacon Alternatives: Pancetta or prosciutto work. Skip it if you want, but you lose richness.
- Boursin Cheese Upgrade: Replace ¼ cup Parmesan with Boursin. Same carbs, adds garlic and herbs.
- Dairy-Free: Coconut Cream - Replace heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream. Same carbs. Tastes sweet and tropical instead of neutral.
- Protein Swaps: Pork tenderloin: Same time and results. Salmon: 4-5 minutes, add 1g carb. Shrimp: 2-3 minutes, add 1g carb.
- Mushroom Addition: Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms with garlic and onion. 0 carbs. Adds earthiness.
What to serve with low carb marry me chicken?
Best Low Carb Sides for Marry Me Chicken: Creamed spinach, garlic green beans, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, roasted asparagus with parmesan.
All keep carbs minimal while complementing the creamy sauce.
Make it a complete low carb chicken dinner idea. Pair with sautéed mushrooms or roasted broccoli for a full meal.
Wine Pairings for Marry Me Chicken
- Sauvignon Blanc: Crisp, cuts through cream.
- Pinot Gris: Light, fruity.
- Chianti: If you want red.
Plating Tip for Date Night: Serve in the pan at the table. Looks restaurant-quality. Saves dishwashing. Perfect for marry me chicken entertaining.
Nutritional Information
Per Serving:
- Calories: 371
- Carbs: 8g
- Fat: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 20g
Low Carb Marry Me Chicken Macros: At 6g net carbs per serving, this low carb chicken recipe fits any low carb meal plan. Most traditional versions have 25-35g carbs per serving.
Does It Fit Your Carb Limit?
One serving uses only 30 percent of a 20g daily carb limit. Leaves room for side dishes and snacks.
Why This Low Carb Chicken Is Different
The cream and Parmesan sauce keeps carbs minimal. No flour, no pasta, no breading. Just real ingredients.
Storage
Fridge Storage: Store in an airtight container. Lasts 3-4 days.
Reheating: Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Don't use high heat or the sauce may break.
Freezing Cream Sauces: Freeze chicken separately from sauce. Cream sauces don't freeze well together. Freeze chicken up to 3 months.
Meal Prep: Portion into containers on Sunday. Grab one each day for lunch or dinner. Reheats perfectly. Cook the full recipe twice. Store chicken in one container, sauce in another. Mix fresh each day or reheat separately.
Why This Recipe Outperforms Regular Marry Me Chicken
Traditional Marry Me Chicken: Most versions: 25-35g carbs per serving. Served over pasta or mashed potatoes. Heavy cream base with minimal flavor complexity.
This Low Carb Version: Only 6g net carbs per serving. Green olives and bacon add depth. Sun-dried tomato oil infuses richness. Chili flakes add subtle heat.
Same Restaurant Taste, Fraction of the Carbs: You get the creamy, indulgent sauce without the carb load. Tastes expensive. Takes 25 minutes. Fits any low carb meal plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Regular cream (10-18% fat) curdles easily. Heavy cream (35% fat) has enough fat to emulsify without breaking. If you must substitute, use crème fraîche or Greek yogurt stirred in after removing from heat.
They're the same dish with different names. Tuscan refers to Florence cooking style. Marry Me is the modern viral name. Some versions include spinach. The core is creamy, garlicky, Parmesan sauce with tomatoes.
Use fresh or canned tomatoes instead. Halve fresh grape tomatoes, sauté with garlic, then proceed. Or use ½ can diced tomatoes (drained well). Add 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar to match the flavor complexity.
Other low carb dinners you might enjoy
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Low Carb Marry Me Chicken Recipe (The Easy One-Pan Method)
Recipe Card
Low Carb Marry Me Chicken
RECIPE VIDEO
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ small onion diced
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
- 1 cup gluten free chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream 35% fat
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil sliced or chopped
- ¼ cup sliced green olives
- ¼ cup crumbled bacon optional
- 4 fresh basil leaves garnish
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Slice each breast in half lengthwise. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken 4-5 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, sauté diced onion and minced garlic until tender (2-3 minutes). Stir in the sundried tomato oil.
- Stir in chili flakes and Italian seasoning. Mix through (30 seconds).
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Simmer 2-3 minutes (do NOT boil).
- Add grated Parmesan. Stir constantly until melted and smooth (1-2 minutes).
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and green olives. Mix through.
- Return chicken to the pan. Simmer 2-3 minutes until heated through.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with crumbled bacon, fresh basil, and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh grated Parmesan, not pre-grated.
- Keep heat at medium-low once cream is added. Never boil.
- Don't skip the sun-dried tomato oil. It prevents the sauce from breaking.
Important Information
For more information, tips and variations please review the recipe video and content above and below the recipe card.
Updates and Revisions
If the video and recipe card differ, follow the recipe card for the latest ingredients and instructions.
Nutritional Information
Nutrition info is estimated and varies by ingredients, measurements, and portions.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooked food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more food guidelines
Robin Whittington says
Love this recipe
Oscar Chimenti says
Thank you.
TS says
This was delicious.
Oscar Chimenti says
Thank you.
Oscar Chimenti says
This is the best low carb chicken recipe I've made. The green olives and bacon make it taste fancy. So easy.
Cindy says
I just found these recipes while searching for low carb options to make for my husband who is on the Keto diet...and I'm obsessed with these recipes and his subtle extras that give it the special taste. I will be making the Merry me Chicken tonight and then saw those Lemon muffins...wow. I'll let you know how it worked out. I've searched online recipes for years but these are incredible!
One thing though ...I can't seem to find crushed Chili flakes...only red pepper flakes? And I'm sure Chili flakes will be better.
Oscar Chimenti says
Thank you so much, chili flakes and red pepper flakes are pretty much the same thing, feel free to use what you have.