Chicken with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce – an 80’s throwback! I like to pack in a lot of sun dried tomato flavour here by using the oil from the jar to cook the chicken. Why throw away free flavour??
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce for Chicken
Sun dried tomatoes don’t feature as much anymore as they should. Back in the 80’s they were ALL THE RAGE!
But they never went out of fashion in my world. Throw a small amount into almost any meal and you get a wonderful burst of extra flavour. I use them to make a super quick 12 Minutes Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad, in creamy chicken pasta, I stuff ’em inside chicken breast and Chicken Meatloaf and I use then for pasta salads.
The added bonus is the oil that the sun dried tomatoes are marinated in. Free flavour! Using the oil from the jar to cook the chicken really drives home the sun dried tomato flavour in the overall dish.
I never toss out the oil that olives and other antipasto things come in. I recycle them – either cook with it, or I use it to marinate cubes of feta or char grilled vegetables. Have to you ever tried that? Super thrifty – and extra flavour!
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce ingredients
Here’s what you need for the creamy sun dried tomato sauce. I’ve used chicken thighs here, but it’s just as great made with chicken breast.
Quick dinner – 15 Minutes!
If you have a skillet large enough to cook all the chicken in one batch, then you’ll get this on the table in around 15 minutes. Chicken thighs should take around 6 -7 minutes to cook, and the creamy sun dried tomato sauce takes about 5 minutes.
I usually prep the sauce ingredients which the chicken is browning, so there’s really not much extra prep time.
Serve this with mashed potato OR, to make this a sensational low carb meal, with Creamy Mashed Cauliflower. It’s also great with pasta, or even just some crusty bread, dinner rolls or even focaccia to mop up the sauce! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Chicken with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 750g / 1.5lb chicken thighs OR chicken breast , skinless and boneless
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper
- 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes , strips, drained of oil (Note 1)
- 2 tbsp oil from sun dried tomatoes jar (Note 1)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) white wine (sub chicken broth)
- 3/4 cup (185 ml) chicken broth/stock , low sodium
- 3/4 cup (185 ml) thickened / heavy cream
- 1/3 cup (30g) parmesan, very finely shredded (Note 2)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard (Note 3)
- 1 cup basil leaves , packed (optional)
Instructions
- Breast: Cut chicken in half horiztonally to form 2 thin steaks.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil from sun dried tomat jar in a large skillet over high heat.
- Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides - 6 minutes total for thigh or 4 minutes for breast. Remove onto a plate, keep warm.
- Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds until light golden.
- Add wine. Bring to simmer and scrape the bottom of the skillet to mix all the brown bits into the wine.
- Let the wine simmer for 1 minute or so until the smell of alcohol is gone which means it has evaporated.
- Mix in mustard, then add the chicken broth, cream, parmesan and sun dried tomatoes.
- Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened. Stir regularly to dissolve parmesan cheese.
- Taste sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Stir through basil leaves, then return chicken into pan. Spoon sauce over and simmer 1 minute.
- Serve immediately! Great served over mashed potato, Creamy Mashed Cauliflower or pasta. Or serve with bread on the side to mop up sauce!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published July 2015, updated July 2019 with new photos, new video, new process photos, new writing. And the recipe has been spruced up a wee bit too!
Life of Dozer
I went to the loo, came back and he’d made himself at home on MY cashmere blanket!
maryl h cipperly says
Very tasty but I found the sauce to be a little thin. I added flour to thicken it.
Nagi says
Hi Maryl, yes you can always thicken with cornflour/flour if you prefer it slightly thicker. N x
Mary says
I made a Hugh mistake – pulled out a jar of roasted red peppers instead of sun dried tomatoes….Didn’t realize it until it was too late. I panicked as dinner was ruined. I added 1/2 can of diced tomatoes, it was delish!!
Nagi says
I love a good save Mary! I’m so happy it worked out for you!
Simone says
Superb!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Simone!
Joanne pitch says
Can you substitute the parmazan for cheddar? I love parmazan but my family hate it and I really want to try this recipe
Shulan says
Hi Nagi,
I’ve tried this recipes a couple of times, yum! You mentioned “serve immediately!” Which is so important so the sauce has the right consistency when served. Is there a way to pre- cook or prepare this dish in advance for big group?
BTW, thanks for providing so many great recipes for home cooking.
Nagi says
Hi Shulan, It’s fine to make in advance, I’d just cook it up to step 9 then finish off the last steps just before serving your crowd 🙂
Lesley says
Can you pre cook this to use later?
Jay says
Loved it. I forgot how good SD
tomato was. .Used chicken breast and a bit of granulated garlic as that is what I had. The basil is a must! Thanks for this one.
Nagi says
YES! They are so full of flavour, one of my favourite ingredients to use – N x
Sharlene says
I have to admit, even following recipes my cooking can be somewhat unappealing, buut this recipe was a hit in our family. Super easy, tasty and satisfied bellies. Thanks heaps Nagi 🙂
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Sharlene – N x
Alisa Gordon says
I made this last Sunday for a family lunch and it was absolutely lovely. Had some left over so I shredded the chicken and put it back through the sauce with spaghetti. Dinner done too! Thanks again!
Nagi says
Sounds great Alisa!!
Sarah says
Can you freeze this once made Nagi?
Haven’t yet tried this one but recently found out about your site and have loved every recipe!!
Nagi says
Hi Sarah, I find that the sauce can split if frozen unfortunately – N x
Ana Babesku says
I made it. Delicious. Thank you Nagi &Dozer.
Postcard from Sydney, very nice. Congratulations.
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Ana!
Stefani says
This is an amazing dish! We made it for company tonight and it was a hit!
So much flavor!
My daughter doesn’t eat meat so I made her a portobello mushroom and put the sauce on it. She loved every bite!
Nagi says
Sounds like you nailed it Stefani!
Sykc says
It’s fantastically easy recipe to follow and pack with flavour. Didn’t pan fry the chicken with sundried tomato oil but the sauce still good.
Can I try this with white fish or salmon
Karyn says
It is delicious with salmon!
Nagi says
You sure could Sykc!
julie davidson says
could you make this ahead for a dinner party so you are not in kitchen cooking entire dish? also, I love tarragon and wondered your thoughts on it in place of basil?
Nagi says
Hi Julie, you sure could – you could even make the sauce and cook the chicken just before serving. Tarragon would be a lovely addition! – N x
Linda J. says
WOW!!! Can “ridiculous” even describe this!!?!! This was SO fricken delish! My roommate told me when I (she actually said “if”) get a boyfriend THIS is the meal I should cook for him!! (LOL) AMAZING!!!
Nagi says
Hahaha I love it Linda!
Natalie says
10/10 Nagi! Served it with mashed potato, steamed broccoli and asparagus, it was so damn good ☺️
Nagi says
Sounds like you nailed it Natalie!
michele says
I made it tonight and it is FANTAStiC! There is so much flavor. Every family member loved it. I will just simply cook chicken in a skillet in the sundried tomato oil. It is delicous even without the sauce
Sue Chin says
This was delicious, with so much flavor. Also very colorful on the mashed potatoes. My husband said “a gourmet meal on a weeknight!” Thank you, Nagi!
Nagi says
It’s such a great hack isn’t it Michele!!
Patrick says
Done it. Damn good! And my wife was a food critic for a newspaper for 10 years! She loved it.
Denise says
I made this and everyone loves it! It’s so creamy! I’m not a fan of anything tomato really but it was so tasty. Making again this week. Used chicken breast and had warmed pitta bread with it. It’s a meal in itself so didn’t need anything extra. Also swapped basil for fresh chives. Divine!
Nagi says
Sounds like you nailed it Denise!
Trish johnson says
OMG…just made this dish. Wasn’t rushing but still was eating in 20 minutes. I love thighs and used them but will probably recommend to my hardcore boneless breast friends to use them. Every ingredient was easily found at my supermarket. Best meal ever. Exactly why I love your recipes. Thanks Nagi
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Trish!