Description
A one-pan weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a rich, velvety garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Ready in 30 minutes with restaurant-quality flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), chopped, oil reserved
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and pound to an even ½-inch thickness. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Add spinach and stir until wilted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Return chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Spoon sauce over chicken and heat through for 1-2 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil and black pepper.
Notes
Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking. Reserve oil from sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor. Add cheese off heat to prevent graininess. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: creamy tuscan garlic chicken, one pan dinner, weeknight meals, gluten free chicken, easy dinner recipes, garlic cream sauce