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This Whole30 marry me chicken recipe is a dairy free, soy free, totally Whole30-compliant version of our reader favorite marry me chicken. Tender chicken breasts in a rich dairy-free cream sauce with sweet-tart sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and crushed red pepper flakes. This’ll be a staple in your Whole30/paleo meal rotation!

Whole30 marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • Our marry me chicken is a reader favorite, and it’s easy to see why! I mean, who doesn’t love perfectly cooked chicken in a rich, decadent sauce made with heavy cream, parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes? Exactly. The downside to all that decadence, though? You can’t have it on Whole30. Until now, that is! I’ve adapted that super-popular creamy chicken recipe to be totally Whole30-compliant, dairy free, low carb, keto-friendly, and paleo-friendly. Dig in!
  • Just like the traditional version, Whole30 marry me chicken pairs really well with a wide variety of sides. Mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans, zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice… If you’re not paleo or on a Whole30 round, you could also serve it with pasta (like in our marry me chicken pasta) or a mushroom risotto.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days, making this a great Whole30 meal prep option. It reheats well, too; just pop it in the microwave or warm it in a skillet until heated through.

Chef’s Tips

  • There’s a lot of really nice flavors in this recipe as-is. If you’d like an extra flavor boost, trying adding in some sautéed mushrooms for another layer of delicious savoriness. You can also add some of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet, rather than just using the tomatoes.
  • We leave the chicken breasts whole here, but cutting them into cutlets first will shorten your cook time! Simply slice the chicken breasts in half from one side to the other (like a hamburger bun) and proceed with the recipe as written.
  • You can cook the chicken to a food-safe internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit and serve it immediately, but I actually like to take it out of the oven when it’s around 160°-162° Fahrenheit inside and let it rest in the pan for 5 minutes or so while I finish up the sides. The chicken’ll continue to cook a little as it rests, so taking it out slightly early will ensure you don’t accidentally overcook it.
Whole30 marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet.
Whole30 marry me chicken on a bed of mashed potatoes in a large shallow blue bowl.

More Whole30 Recipes You’ll Love

Whole30 marry me chicken in a cast iron skillet.
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
4.99 from 56 votes

Whole30 Marry Me Chicken

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Total 45 minutes
A totally Whole30-compliant version of our reader favorite marry me chicken, complete with tender chicken, a rich dairy-free cream sauce, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes.
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6 servings

Equipment

  • cast-iron skillet or other oven-safe skillet
  • Tongs
  • Plate

Ingredients

For the Chicken

  • 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts approximately 2 pounds
  • salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

For the Whole30 Marry Me Sauce

Serving Suggestions (All Optional)

  • 2 tablespoons fresh basil chiffonaded (see Notes), for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
  • Place 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts on cutting board. Trim chicken as needed. If chicken breasts are unevenly sized or especially thick, pound chicken breasts with rolling pin or meat pounder as needed until all chicken breasts are equal in size and thickness.
  • Season chicken breasts generously on all sides with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Set chicken aside.
  • Place large cast-iron skillet on stovetop over medium heat. When pan is warm, add 2 tablespoons avocado oil and continue heating pan until oil is hot and shimmery.
  • When oil is hot, place seasoned chicken breasts in skillet. Sear chicken 3 to 4 minutes or until opaque, then flip chicken over and sear on other side 3 minutes. Note: if chicken begins to smoke, burn, or stick to pan, add more oil as needed.
    Chicken breasts in cast iron skillet
  • Once chicken is opaque on both sides, transfer chicken to large plate and set aside. Return skillet to medium heat. Do not drain or wipe out skillet.
  • Add 1 ½ tablespoons minced fresh garlic to pan. Stir to incorporate then sauté garlic approximately 60 seconds or until fragrant.
  • When garlic is fragrant, add ½ cup chicken broth and stir to incorporate, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any bits of chicken or garlic that may have stuck to skillet.
  • After deglazing pan, remove pan from heat and let cool slightly. Add 1 cup unsweetened, full-fat coconut milk, 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½-1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Stir until all ingredients are fully incorporated, then return skillet to heat.
    Marry me chicken sauce in cast iron skillet
  • Bring mixture to simmer, then return chicken breasts to skillet. Quickly flip chicken 2 to 3 times to coat in sauce.
  • Place skillet in preheated oven. Bake chicken 15 minutes, then check internal temperature with meat thermometer. Continue baking as long as needed, checking internal temperature regularly until thermometer reads 160° Fahrenheit.
  • Once chicken reaches 160° Fahrenheit internally, carefully remove skillet from oven. Set skillet aside and let chicken rest 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, transfer chicken to serving plates. Spoon sauce from skillet over chicken as desired, then garnish with 2 tablespoons fresh basil and serve immediately with desired sides.
  • Coconut Milk: For a richer, thicker, creamier sauce, place the can of coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight. When you open it, you’ll see the layer of thick coconut cream on top of the thin coconut milk. Scoop out the coconut cream and use that in this recipe instead. You can also use plain Nutpods if you don’t like coconut milk/cream.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Make sure your tomatoes are fully compliant and don’t contain any added sugars or sulfites. 
  • To Chiffonade the Basil: Stack fresh basil leaves on top of each other, then roll tightly lengthwise. Use a small, sharp knife to slice the roll into thin ribbons. Slice perpendicular to roll.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 345calProtein: 36gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 623mgPotassium: 1058mgTotal Carbs: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gNet Carbs: 6gVitamin A: 191IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

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164 Comments

  1. This is SO good. I just made it for dinner with a side of pasta. I will definitely make this dish again.5 stars

    Reply

    2. It’s perfect. We don’t tweak anything with the sauce because it’s perfect. And it’s so versatile with sides! Rice? Yes. Potatoes? Yes. Quinoa? Yes. Pasta? Also yes. Any roasted veggie on the side has not disappointed with this dish. Thank you for the recipe! We make it all the time.5 stars

      Reply

  2. I wanted to try something new, non dairy. This dish was amazingly tasty. I used chicken thighs and the chicken was super tender and it did not take long to make. I think its my new favourite!

    Reply

  3. So easy and yet SO DELICIOUS! My goodness. My entire family absolutely loved it. Everyone agreed that the meal has to be a regular in our home. I’m thinking about making it for our large family Easter meal. Thank you so much. Your amazing recipes (that I turn to often!) make eating healthier (and dairy and gluten free) so much easier and definitely tastier! Again, thank you sincerely.5 stars

    Reply

  5. The sauce and flavor is delicious! My only regret is following the ingredient list for “large” chicken breasts. Next time I will filet the breasts or use thighs.5 stars

    Reply

  7. My husband is a picky eater and when he says this is delicious, it’s a home run. It is listed on my Pinterest Favorite Board. So easy, so flavorful and a total winner. Thank you! I’ve made this numerous times. I add some spinach to it and serve it on Pureed Cauliflower.

    Reply

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