Marry Me Chicken

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken breast (sliced thin)
• Sazon seasoning (contains salt; used for chicken only)
• garlic powder (for chicken and sauce)
• paprika (for chicken and sauce)
• mild red chili powder (for chicken and sauce)
• crushed red pepper flakes (for chicken and sauce)
• oregano (or Italian seasoning; for chicken and sauce)
• black pepper (for chicken and sauce)
• 2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
• 2 tbsp butter (divided)
• 0.5 onion (diced)
• 3 garlic (cloves, crushed)
• 0.25 tsp salt (to 1/2 tsp, or to taste)
• 1 can tomato paste (6 oz can)
• 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• water (splashes as needed to loosen sauce)
• 1 cup heavy cream (or more for desired consistency)
• 4 handful baby spinach (3-4 handfuls)
• parsley (chopped, for garnish)

Steps

1. 1

   Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts and slice them thin for even cooking.

2. 2

   Season the chicken generously with Sazon, garlic powder, paprika, mild red chili, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano (or Italian seasoning), and black pepper. Do not add extra salt as the Sazon already contains it.

3. 3

   Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat, ensuring the bottom of the pan is well coated.

4. 4

   Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

5. 5

   Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate, being sure to save any juices that collect.

6. 6

   In the same pan, add the diced onion and crushed garlic. Sauté until fragrant and softened.

7. 7

   Add the seasonings to the sauce: garlic powder, paprika, mild red chili, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano, and black pepper. Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Do not add Sazon to the sauce.

8. 8

   Stir in the entire can of tomato paste and the sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for a minute to develop the flavor.

9. 9

   Add splashes of water as needed to loosen the mixture and prevent sticking.

10. 10

    Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Allow the sauce to simmer and develop a deep color and creamy consistency.

11. 11

    Add the handfuls of baby spinach and stir until they are immediately wilted into the sauce.

12. 12

    Return the chicken and any accumulated juices from the plate back into the pan. Stir to coat the chicken in the sauce.

13. 13

    Garnish with chopped parsley and serve over your choice of pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Notes

The author suggests that the tomato paste amount is intentional to create a large volume of sauce for serving with pasta. Adjust heavy cream amount to reach your preferred sauce color and thickness.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• dinner
• creamy
• chicken
• one-pan
• comfort food