Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe
If you’re ready to learn how to make chicken that will rival any Italian restaurant, look no further than this creamy Tuscan chicken recipe made in one skillet. The chicken is tender, juicy, and simmers in a homemade sun dried tomato cream sauce. For anyone who loves sun dried tomatoes like I do, you’re in luck with this comfort food family dinner. Additionally, there are red bell peppers, onions, garlic, and plenty of herbs and spices including basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, and smoked paprika. As if that wasn’t enough to add oodles of flavor and richness to this Tuscan creamy chicken, there’s also fresh Parmesan cheese, white wine for depth of flavor, and lemon juice to really balance everything out. This Tuscan chicken skillet is perfect served over al dente spaghetti. Or try it over another starch like rice, mashed potatoes, or even quinoa if you want to maintain the naturally gluten-free status of this recipe. Friends, family, kids and adults alike are going to go nuts over this comfort food classic Italian recipe that’s easier than you think to make! And faster — it’s ready from start to finish in 45 minutes.
Ingredients in Creamy Tuscan Chicken
For this creamy Tuscan chicken with sun dried tomatoes that everyone is going to rave about, you do need a fair amount of ingredients. However, everything is an easy to find and common fridge or pantry ingredient including the following items:
Olive oilChicken breastsSaltPepperUnsalted butterWhite or yellow onionGarlicSun dried tomatoes, with the oil drainedTomato pasteRed bell pepperFresh basilFresh parsleyFresh thymeDried oreganoSmoked paprikaChicken brothDry white wineLemon juiceHeavy creamParmesan cheeseFresh spinach
How to Make Tuscan Chicken in a Skillet
To make this delectable, rich, creamy Tuscan chicken in a skillet, follow these straightforward steps: Step 1: Add the olive oil and chicken to a skillet, season with salt and pepper, and saute. Flip after about 6 minutes. Step 2: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and add the butter, onion, garlic, and saute. Step 3: Add the sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and stir to combine. Step 4: Add the bell pepper, all the herbs, and stir to combine. Step 5: Add the chicken broth, wine, lemon juice, and simmer for 5 minutes. Step 6: Add the cream, Parmesan, spinach, and wilt the spinach. Step 7: Place the cooked chicken back into the skillet, simmer momentarily, and garnish with extra Parm and herbs if desired before serving!
What to Serve with Tuscan Chicken
Creamy Tuscan chicken made in a skillet is great served over noodles such as spaghetti squash noodles as shown in the photos. Rice, quinoa or mashed potatoes are also good options. Finally, you can’t go wrong with a big green chopped salad as opposed to starches or grains.
How to Store Tuscan Chicken
Your creamy sun dried Tuscan chicken will keep airtight for up to 5 days in the fridge. This is one of those dinner recipes where the leftovers taste just as good, if not better, than the day you make it. That’s because all the flavors from the sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, fresh herbs, and Parmesan marry together.
Can You Freeze Tuscan Chicken?
No, I don’t recommend freezing this chicken skillet recipe because the sauce could break and separate upon thawing. Not worth the chance.
Tips for the Best Tuscan Chicken Breasts
Here are a few final tips for making Tuscan chicken with sun dried tomatoes!
Sun-Dried Tomatoes
For this recipe I use jarred sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil. However, you don’t add the oil to the recipe. But I save it for dipping garlic bread or bread sticks into. I also am a cheese board fanatic and a little sun dried tomato with a cracker topped with cheese and then oil is delish.
Heavy Cream
Make sure to use heavy cream to get the creamiest Tuscan chicken. Don’t use half-and-half nor milk because they just aren’t the same. After adding the heavy cream to your skillet, make sure to control the heat and not let it get to rip-roaring boil. A very gentle simmer is all I suggest. The reason being is that anytime you’re working with a dairy-based sauce, there’s always the risk of the milk proteins breaking, or separating. There’s enough cheese and fat (which tends to insure against sauces breaking) in this recipe, but nevertheless, easy does it with the heat so you don’t break your beautiful sauce.
Parmesan Cheese
There is nothing more Italian than Parmesan cheese and in your Italian Tuscan chicken, you definitely want to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Don’t use cheese from a green can please.
Fresh Ingredients
As I mentioned, fresh herbs, fresh lemon juice, and fresh spinach are recommended as opposed to dried, canned, or frozen; respectively.
More Easy Chicken Skillet Recipes:
Creamy Dijon Chicken Skillet —Tender, juicy chicken bathed in a divine cream sauce made with garlic, cream, Dijon mustard, and a splash of wine for extra flavor!! This restaurant-quality EASY stovetop chicken is ready in 20 minutes and will be a family FAVORITE! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Garlic Butter Chicken — Tender, juicy chicken bathed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a splash of wine for extra flavor!! This EASY stovetop chicken recipe is ready in 15 minutes and will become a family FAVORITE!! Lemon Dijon Chicken Skillet — Tender, juicy chicken with a scrumptious sauce made with lemon butter, Dijon mustard, and a splash of wine for extra flavor!! One Pan Lemon Butter Chicken and Potatoes – A DELICIOUS family dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes and full of lemon buttery goodness!! ONE PAN keeps things EASY for you with less dishes!! One-Skillet Honey Dijon Chicken with Potatoes and Green Beans – An EASY, one-skillet recipe that’s ready in 20 minutes!! Juicy chicken, crispy potatoes, and crisp-tender green beans for the WIN! Great for busy weeknights or date-night-in!! 15-Minute Honey Mustard Chicken Skillet — If you like dipping your chicken in honey mustard, you’re going to LOVE every bite of this chicken that’s coated in homemade honey mustard sauce!! Fast, EASY, juicy, tender, and made in one skillet!! Healthier Orange Chicken — Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this HEALTHIER orange chicken at home in less than 10 minutes!!
Skinny Mexican Chicken Skillet — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and is a skinny recipe that keeps you full and satisfied!! A great Mexican-inspired meal that’s naturally gluten-free and is a flavor FIESTA in your mouth!!
