Creamy Tuscan Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken breasts in a luscious creamy garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Sauce

06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 3 cups fresh baby spinach
12 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh basil leaves
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside on a clean plate.
03 - In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour heavy cream and chicken broth into the skillet. Stir vigorously, scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom.
05 - Add Parmesan cheese, dried basil, and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly until cheese melts and sauce thickens, approximately 2-3 minutes.
06 - Add fresh baby spinach to the skillet and cook until completely wilted, about 2 minutes.
07 - Return seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon sauce over the top, and simmer for 2-3 minutes to heat through.
08 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under forty minutes, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like a treat you're giving yourself.
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time to actually enjoy your meal.
  • The sauce is so silky and flavorful that even people who claim they don't like spinach find themselves eating it without protest.
02 -
  • If your sauce looks thin when you first add the cream, don't panic or reach for cornstarch; the Parmesan will thicken it as it melts, and simmering helps it reduce naturally to the right consistency.
  • Drying the chicken before searing is non-negotiable because any surface moisture prevents browning and creates steam instead of a golden crust.
03 -
  • Slice your sun-dried tomatoes into manageable pieces rather than leaving them whole, so they distribute throughout the sauce and provide little bursts of flavor with every bite.
  • Keep your heat at a gentle simmer once you add the cream, because high heat can cause it to separate or become grainy.
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