Description
This Easy Tuscan Chicken Recipe is a creamy skillet dish with spinach, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a quick, comforting, and family-friendly meal, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into cutlets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and chopped
- 5–6 oz fresh spinach
- 1.5 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
- 0.5 cup chicken broth
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Season chicken cutlets evenly with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Brown Chicken: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken for 3-5 minutes per side until golden brown and sizzling. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add chopped onion to the skillet; cook until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Build Sauce: Deglaze with 0.5 cup chicken broth, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1.5 cups heavy cream, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Add Spinach and Cheese: Stir in 5-6 oz fresh spinach until it wilts and reduces significantly in volume. Reduce heat to low, then stir in 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Finish Dish: Return browned chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the creamy Tuscan sauce. Simmer gently for a few minutes until the chicken is heated through and bubbling around the edges.
Notes
Cook chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet and ensure better browning. Simmer cream gently to prevent curdling and keep the sauce smooth. Aim for just cooked-through chicken initially, as it will continue to cook in the sauce. For a dairy-free option, use unsweetened full-fat coconut milk. For a vegetarian option, swap chicken for cannellini beans or firm tofu.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 29 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tuscan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken cutlet with sauce (approx 200g)
- Calories: 650 calories
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 25 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
Keywords: easy chicken recipe, Tuscan chicken, creamy skillet, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, weeknight dinner, family-friendly, quick meal