Creamy Tuscan Chicken Tomatoes (Printable)

Tender chicken cooked with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a luscious creamy sauce.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 to 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Creamy Sauce

06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 0.5 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - 0.5 cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 0.33 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - 0.25 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and 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, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside, loosely covered to keep warm.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced sun-dried tomatoes; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant and garlic is softened.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, then stir in grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix well and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add chopped spinach to the sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Stir in fresh chopped basil and mix to combine.
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 additional fresh basil. Serve hot over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant food but comes together faster than you can order takeout.
  • The sauce is naturally forgiving and gets better if you let it simmer an extra minute or two.
  • One pan means fewer dishes to face after dinner, which honestly matters more than people admit.
02 -
  • Don't crowd the pan or move the chicken around obsessively; give it those 5 to 6 minutes per side undisturbed so it actually caramelizes and doesn't steam.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, it usually means the heat was too high; lower it and stir gently, and it will come back together.
03 -
  • Let your chicken come to room temperature for about ten minutes before cooking; it will cook more evenly and brown more beautifully than cold chicken straight from the fridge.
  • Taste your sauce before the chicken goes back in and adjust for salt and acid; a tiny squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens everything without anyone knowing why it tastes so good.
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