Description

A rich, flavorful, and budget-friendly weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts in a creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes with simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (drained if packed in oil)
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 cups fresh spinach
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

Pound chicken breasts 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 3-4 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 sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute, then stir in heavy cream. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Fold in fresh spinach until wilted. Stir in fresh basil.
Return chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Warm through for 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed and serve immediately.

Notes

Pound chicken evenly for consistent cooking. Do not skip the sear for flavor. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk or broth. If too thin, simmer longer or add more cheese. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy sauce.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
Calories: 480
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 650
Fat: 24
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 28
Fiber: 2
Protein: 35

Keywords: creamy tuscan chicken, sun-dried tomato chicken, easy weeknight dinner, budget family dinner, one pan chicken, gluten-free chicken recipe