Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet (Print Page)

Tender chicken breasts in a garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, perfect for dinner.

# What You 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 for garnish
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese for garnish

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • One pan means one cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of any weeknight meal.
  • The sauce coats everything in a silky richness that makes people think you spent hours cooking when you barely cracked a sweat.
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, leaving time for actually sitting down to eat instead of cooking until bedtime.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the chicken completely—any moisture on the surface will prevent browning and you'll end up with pale, steamed chicken instead of golden seared pieces.
  • The sauce will seem thin when you first pour in the cream, but it thickens as the cheese melts and the spinach releases its moisture, so trust the process and don't panic.
03 -
  • If your cream sauce seems to break or separate, whisk in a splash of cold chicken broth and lower the heat—this usually rescues it immediately.
  • Don't be shy with the Parmesan; cheese is what makes this sauce feel silky and luxurious, so use the full amount and taste as you go.
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