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!
This was delicious, tangy and tasty. I will definitely make again. I prepped all ingredients during the day so was very simple to put together.
Was delicious. I added the mustard and wished I hadn’t kinda over powered the sauce. Would make this again.
Hi Nagi. Thanks for the recipe. Can I substitute red wine for white in this meal? Thanks
Not in this one Miranda, red is too heavy and would overpower the dish – N x
I followed the recipe exactly and got a rich, creamy, beautiful depth of flavour meal of restaurant quality – AND it was super easy! The chicken turns out super tender too.
I’ve made this a few times and I wouldn’t change a thing – it’s very consistent and very simple for such a great result that works every time. Using the oil from the sundried tomatoes is brilliant. The sauce is generous and perfect consistency for being sopped up with creamy buttery potatoes. Looks exactly as pictured. Definitely a keeper. Thank you so much.
That’s lovely to hear, thanks so much Chainie!! N x
Hey Nagi!
Could I make this into a pasta?
As in just instead of doing as a side, put chicken and sauce in pasta and stir through.
Thanks
Give this one a go Brooke – https://discountspot.info/chicken-pasta-recipe/%3C/a%3E N x
Very tasty but I found the sauce to be a little thin. I added flour to thicken it.
Hi Maryl, yes you can always thicken with cornflour/flour if you prefer it slightly thicker. N x
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!!
I love a good save Mary! I’m so happy it worked out for you!
Superb!
Thanks so much Simone!
Can you substitute the parmazan for cheddar? I love parmazan but my family hate it and I really want to try this recipe
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.
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 🙂
Can you pre cook this to use later?
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.
YES! They are so full of flavour, one of my favourite ingredients to use – N x
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 🙂
That’s great to hear Sharlene – N x
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!
Sounds great Alisa!!
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!!
Hi Sarah, I find that the sauce can split if frozen unfortunately – N x
I made it. Delicious. Thank you Nagi &Dozer.
Postcard from Sydney, very nice. Congratulations.
You’re so welcome Ana!
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!
Sounds like you nailed it Stefani!
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
It is delicious with salmon!
You sure could Sykc!
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?
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
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!!!
Hahaha I love it Linda!