Buzz
Thinking about popping the question? Sure, you could buy a ring, propose, and dive into wedding plans. Or, you could skip the usual steps and try to win a future spouse over with this famous chicken recipe instead.
Frequently linked to the idea of commitment, ‘engagement chicken’ is essentially a simple roast chicken. But it’s said to be so irresistibly good that after sharing it, the only logical next step is marriage. And no, it doesn’t come with a ring hanging from the drumstick. It’s just a straightforward recipe—roasting the chicken at high heat to get crispy skin and juicy meat, with the hope of maybe—just maybe—winning someone’s heart for life.
The History of ‘Engagement Chicken’
Roast chicken is a timeless favorite, but what sets this one apart? It's the story behind it, specifically rooted in urban myth.
The dish became known as 'Engagement chicken' in 1982 when Kim Bonnell, a former fashion editor at Glamour magazine, shared a roast chicken recipe with a colleague. The recipe, inspired by an earlier creation from chef Marcella Hazan, sparked a romantic chain reaction. The colleague cooked it for her boyfriend, and just a month later, she was engaged. From there, the recipe gained fame at the magazine. "I started sharing this recipe, and next thing you know, people started getting engaged," Bonnell told The New York Times in 2023.
The recipe became a culinary staple in the mid-2000s after being published in Glamour. While cooking for someone is undeniably a loving gesture, it’s hard to prove that this particular recipe directly results in a partner proposing marriage.
However, the legend and the delicious recipe endure. Ina Garten has put her own twist on it (though it’s worth mentioning that she married Jeffrey in 1968, long before her culinary career began). Meghan Markle’s engagement to Prince Harry also followed her preparing a particular chicken dish.
Even Emily Blunt is said to be a fan. "The roast chicken I adore is Ina Garten’s version, known as 'engagement chicken.' It’s believed that when people cook it for someone, they end up getting engaged," she shared on iHeartMedia’s River Cafe Table 4 podcast in 2021. Blunt revealed that she made it for her husband, John Krasinski, early in their relationship. "That’s it," she remarked. "All it took!"
The Allure of 'Marry Me' Dishes
While poultry might not hold the secret to a perfect relationship, a well-cooked meal can stir meaningful conversations, memories, and even epiphanies. This is perhaps why the concept of 'engagement chicken' has evolved on social media into a newer sensation: 'Marry Me Chicken.' The recipe recently gained massive popularity on TikTok.
Named one of the most popular recipes of 2023 by The New York Times, the dish was created in 2016 by Lindsay Funston, a former editor at Delish. This rich recipe involves searing chicken breasts in butter and then simmering them in a creamy parmesan tomato sauce. It's decadent, visually appealing, and as commenters claim, it delights both newlyweds and divorcees alike. The dish has inspired other adaptations like 'Marry Me Chicken Pasta' and 'Marry Me Pasta,' because, after all, marriage is romantic—and who could resist a creamy sauce?
But this raises a bigger question: Do these pre-proposal meals actually work? Skeptics might argue that they don’t, and it’s likely that if you’re about to be proposed to, it will happen regardless of whether you cook a special meal. But if you enjoy meat (or pasta), are craving a cozy dinner for two at home, and are feeling a bit of kitchen magic, why not fire up that oven to 425°F and see what unfolds?
