Creamy Tuscan Chicken Sun-Dried (Printable Version)

Tender chicken in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fresh herbs delivers cozy flavors.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 to 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Creamy Sauce

06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Vegetables & Finish

14 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Remove chicken and set aside, loosely covered with foil.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in heavy cream, chicken broth, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix well and bring to a gentle simmer.
05 - Add chopped spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Stir in chopped fresh basil.
06 - Return seared chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
07 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh basil. Serve hot, ideally over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough to impress, but honestly takes less time than ordering delivery.
  • The creamy sauce clings to everything in the best way, whether you serve it over pasta, rice, or eat it straight from the pan.
  • One skillet means you're not spending your evening with a sink full of dishes.
02 -
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, don't panic; just add a splash of cold broth and whisk it gently off the heat for a minute until it comes back together.
  • Don't let that cream sauce boil hard at any point, or it can separate and look curdled instead of silky.
03 -
  • If you want a lighter sauce, swap half the heavy cream for half-and-half, but know that it won't be quite as luxurious or stable.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes vary wildly in saltiness, so taste your sauce before adding extra salt at the end.
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