Creamy Tuscan Chicken
A quick and easy creamy Tuscan chicken recipe ready in under 30 minutes, featuring tender chicken breasts in a rich, garlicky sun-dried tomato and spinach cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 700g), pounded to even thickness
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried oregano, basil, thyme mix)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil)
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (120 ml), low sodium
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (60 ml), optional
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. (5 minutes)
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add the chicken breasts and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). Remove chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. (10-12 minutes)
- Lower heat to medium. Add 1 tablespoon butter to the same pan. Add minced garlic and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Stir often until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. (2-3 minutes)
- Pour in 1/4 cup white wine (or chicken broth if skipping wine). Scrape up browned bits from the pan with a wooden spoon. Let simmer and reduce by half, about 2 minutes. (2-3 minutes)
- Stir in 1 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Bring to a gentle simmer while stirring frequently until sauce thickens. (3-4 minutes)
- Sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Fold in fresh spinach and cook just until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. (2-3 minutes)
- Return cooked chicken breasts to the sauce. Spoon sauce over the top and simmer for another 2 minutes to marry flavors. (2 minutes)
- Give the sauce a final stir, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, and serve immediately with your favorite sides. (1 minute)
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure a golden crust on the chicken. Use room temperature chicken for even cooking. Let the cream simmer gently to thicken the sauce without curdling. Use fresh garlic for best flavor and add spinach last to keep it vibrant. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes adds subtle heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 45
Keywords: creamy Tuscan chicken, easy dinner, chicken recipe, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, quick meal, weeknight dinner