Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Introduction

Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a rich and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a luscious garlic and sun-dried tomato cream sauce. This recipe brings together classic Italian-inspired ingredients for a comforting meal that’s perfect for any night of the week.

A white pan filled with four cooked chicken breasts covered in a thick yellow-orange creamy sauce, with scattered sun-dried red tomatoes and wilted dark green spinach leaves throughout. The chicken breasts have a light golden-brown color with black pepper seasoning on top. The sauce has a rich texture, surrounding and partially soaking the chicken, with the tomatoes adding strips of deep red scattered evenly. The spinach leaves are mixed within the sauce and resting on the chicken pieces, adding spots of dark green. The pan rests on a white marbled surface with a grey cloth underneath. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 4 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Season both sides of each chicken breast with Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken and set aside on a plate.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with the finely chopped onion. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the onion softens.
  4. Step 4: Add the sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Stir in the baby spinach and cook for another minute until it just begins to wilt.
  6. Step 6: Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle the parmesan cheese. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
  7. Step 7: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, and simmer together for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is heated through and cooked.

Tips & Variations

  • For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use a dairy-free parmesan alternative or nutritional yeast.
  • Serve over cooked pasta, rice, or alongside crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
  • Add fresh herbs such as basil or parsley at the end for a burst of freshness.

Storage

Store leftover creamy Tuscan chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally to maintain the creamy texture.

How to Serve

The image shows a white plate with a black rim holding a meal of two main parts: lentils and chicken covered with sauce. The lentils are dark brown, round, and placed on the left side of the plate. On the right side, there is a piece of cooked chicken breast covered in a thick orange-yellow creamy sauce with visible bits of green spinach and small strips of red sun-dried tomatoes mixed in. The sauce looks smooth with some texture from the ingredients. A silver fork rests on the right edge of the plate, partially dipped in the sauce. The entire plate is set on a white marble surface, with a knife lying beside the plate. Part of a white pan with the same sauce and chicken is visible at the top of the image. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?

It’s best to use fresh or fully thawed chicken breasts to ensure even cooking and the best texture. If using frozen, thaw completely before seasoning and cooking.

What can I substitute for sun-dried tomatoes?

If you don’t have sun-dried tomatoes, you can use fresh cherry tomatoes sautéed until soft, or roasted red peppers for a slightly different but delicious flavor.

Print

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a rich and flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce made with heavy cream, parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, onion, and fresh baby spinach. This comforting Italian-inspired recipe is perfect for an easy weekday dinner or a special occasion meal.

  • Author: Lena
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 4 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Season chicken: Season both sides of each chicken breast evenly with Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to infuse them with classic Tuscan flavors.
  2. Sear chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until they develop a golden brown crust. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
  3. Cook onions: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and finely chopped yellow onion. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the onion becomes soft and translucent, creating the flavor base for the sauce.
  4. Cook tomatoes and garlic: Add the thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about one minute until the garlic is fragrant and the tomatoes begin to release their flavor.
  5. Add spinach: Stir in the baby spinach and cook for another minute until it just starts to wilt, adding freshness and color to the sauce.
  6. Add cream and cheese: Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle the freshly grated parmesan cheese over the mixture. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, allowing the cheese to melt and the sauce to thicken slightly.
  7. Simmer chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy sauce. Let the chicken cook in the simmering sauce for about 5 minutes until heated through and fully cooked. Serve warm.

Notes

  • For a dairy-free alternative, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and parmesan with a vegan cheese substitute.
  • Be careful not to overcook the chicken during searing to keep it juicy and tender.
  • Use sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for more flavor, or rehydrate dry-packed ones in warm water before slicing.
  • This dish pairs wonderfully with pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.

Keywords: Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Italian chicken recipe, creamy chicken dish, sun-dried tomato chicken, spinach chicken, creamy parmesan chicken

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