Tuscan Chicken: Easy A Flavor-Packed Dinner Favorite
A delectable comfort food – a creamy and cheesy Italian inspired chicken with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. It’s a quick, delicious meal that can be prepared for the family or friendly guests will make!
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts 4 pieces, 6 ounces each: Deboned and with no skin for ease of cooking and juicy meats.
- Italian Seasoning 1 tsp: Then, a mix of oils, oregano, thyme, basil and rosemary makes it Tuscan.
- Kosher Salt 1 tsp and Black Pepper (½ tsp): Personal understanding, to ensure it seasons the chicken well.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 tbsp: For browning the chicken and cooking vegetables and spices.
- Garlic 4 cloves, minced: One or the most important parts in Italy cooking is the recommended use of fresh for the best flavour.
- Yellow Onion ¼ cup, finely chopped: Used to enhance the flavour of the food besides giving the dish some sort of sweet taste.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes ½ cup, thinly sliced: Adds a bit of sharpness and a very bold flavor to the richness of the cream sauce.
- Baby Spinach 2 cups: Healthy accompany that tends to counter the fatty taste of the sauce.
- Heavy Cream 1½ cups: The base of the opulent sauce; Use coconut cream if you want your sauce to be non-dairy.
- Parmesan Cheese ¼ cup, freshly grated: Adds the final cheesy touch; nutritional yeast if one prefers not to use dairy.
Instructions
- Season and Sear the ChickenStart by dampening the chicken breasts with a paper towel, and removing any excess moisture. Afterwards, season both sides of the meat with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a pan 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then turn on the heat at medium. Place the chicken breasts and cook for 4-5minutes on both sides until they become golden brown. Take off from the skillet and put them aside on another plate.
- Sauté the AromaticsIn the same pan heat the last tablespoon of olive oil i. Add in the chopped onions, and minced garlic. Then add onion and garlic bell and sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onions have become soft and somewhat translucent.
- Build the Tuscan SauceNow place the sun-dried tomatoes into the skillet and fold into the onion and garlic. Add the heavy cream in it and cook the mixture until it starts to simmering. While stirring add the grated parmesan cheese gradually to make sure that cheese melts well into the sauce.
- Incorporate the Spinach Take the baby spinach and put it into the skillet. Stir until the spinach wilts down, that should only take anything from 1-2 minutes. They add both taste and an extra splash of color in the form of a bright green.
- Combine and Finish Place the seared chicken breasts into the sauce in the skillet positioning them nicely. Place the skillet lid and cook the chicken until it is equally tender and saturated with the sauce, about 5-7 minutes. Enjoy warm with any accompaniments of your choice.
Notes
For best results, use fresh, high-quality ingredients like freshly grated parmesan and baby spinach. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of chicken broth or cream to adjust the consistency. To elevate the flavor, consider using the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes instead of olive oil when sautéing. This recipe is versatile and can be adapted for dairy-free or gluten-free diets with simple substitutions!