38g Protein Marry Me Chicken Recipe

This version of the viral “marry me” chicken strips out some of the heaviness and replaces it with a smarter approach—cottage cheese blended into the sauce for extra protein and a smoother finish. You still get the rich, creamy texture, but without it feeling overloaded.

The real strength of this dish is balance. Sun-dried tomatoes add acidity, garlic adds depth, and the sauce clings to the chicken without becoming greasy. If you rush the browning step or under-season, though, it falls flat fast—this one depends on getting the basics right.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or cutlets
• 1/2 cup chicken broth (preferably low-sodium)
• 1/3 cup cream (light or regular)
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese (blended smooth)
• 2 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan (plus extra for serving)
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh basil for finishing

Method

Step 1
Blend the broth, cream, cottage cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and tomato paste until smooth. Season lightly—this is your base, and if it’s bland now, it’ll stay bland later.

Step 2
Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Lightly coat with a bit of flour and Italian seasoning to help create a better crust when cooking.

Step 3
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until golden on both sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan or you’ll steam it instead of browning. Remove and set aside.

Step 4
Lower the heat and add butter. Stir in garlic and chili flakes, scraping up the browned bits from the pan. This step builds the actual flavor—skip it and your sauce will taste flat.

Step 5
Return the chicken to the pan and pour over the blended sauce. Simmer gently, spooning sauce over the chicken, until it thickens slightly and the chicken is fully cooked through.

Step 6
Finish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately—the sauce tightens as it sits, so don’t let it hang around.\/after

Nutritional Breakdown (Approximate, per serving)

Total servings: 4

• Calories: ~420 kcal
• Protein: ~38 g
• Carbohydrates: ~8 g
• Fat: ~26 g
• Fiber: ~1 g

Recipe and Images credit “inspired by Delish*