Description
Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a rich and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. This comforting meal is perfect for a weeknight dinner and comes together quickly with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Units
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
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (or use 1-2 tablespoons nutritional yeast for a dairy-free substitute)
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Season both sides of each chicken breast evenly with Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to infuse flavor before cooking.
- Sear the chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. Once seared, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the onions: In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil along with the finely chopped yellow onions. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the onions become soft and translucent, releasing their sweetness.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic: Stir in the thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic. Continue sautéing for about 1 minute until you can smell the fragrant aroma of garlic.
- Wilt the spinach: Add the baby spinach to the skillet and sauté for an additional minute until just starting to wilt, incorporating the leafy greens into the sauce.
- Make the creamy sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir everything together well and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and meld flavors.
- Finish cooking the chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts back into the skillet, nestling them into the creamy sauce. Let them cook for about 5 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through and cooked to your preferred doneness.
Notes
- For an easy sun-dried tomato choice, the Alessi brand is highly recommended for its quality and flavor.
- Dairy-free option: substitute heavy cream and Parmesan with 1 to 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a similar cheesy flavor without dairy.
- If using very large or thick chicken breasts, consider pounding them to an even thickness or butterflying them to ensure even and faster cooking.
- When searing thicker chicken breasts, you may need to increase the searing time to achieve a golden crust and thorough cooking.
- For those interested in dinnerware, similar black-rimmed plates to the ones pictured can be found online for an elegant dining presentation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 135mg
