Description
Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a flavorful skillet dish featuring tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked to perfection in a rich and creamy sauce with garlic, cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese. This easy-to-make recipe combines vibrant ingredients for a comforting, restaurant-quality meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
Sauce
- 3 tbsp. butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare and Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts generously with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and dried oregano. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for about 8 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce Base: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the tomatoes start to burst, releasing their juices.
- Add Spinach and Cream: Add the baby spinach to the skillet and cook until it just begins to wilt. Stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for approximately 3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Combine Chicken with Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy sauce. Cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes until the chicken is heated through and fully coated with the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the creamy Tuscan chicken and serve with fresh lemon wedges to add a bright, citrusy finish if desired.
Notes
- This dish pairs tender chicken breasts with a bright and creamy sauce made from garlic, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan cheese, creating a quick and easy yet impressive dinner.
- To enhance flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan and good-quality extra-virgin olive oil.
- Serving with lemon wedges adds a fresh and tangy contrast to the richness of the sauce.
- Chicken breasts can be substituted with thighs for a juicier variation, but adjust cooking times accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 593
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 939 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: approximately 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 66 g
- Cholesterol: 269 mg
