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Best Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Course: Entree
Cuisine: Italian / American
Keyword: Easy chicken dinner, how to make Tuscan chicken, one-pot chicken recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 591kcal
Creamy Tuscan Chicken is deeply flavorful and easy to prepare. If your chicken breasts are extra large (as they usually are), simply cut them in half, lengthwise. Leftovers reheat beautifully with just a little more broth/stock stirred in.
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts cut in half, lengthwise
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tbsp oregano dried
  • 1 tbsp basil dried
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 oz pancetta cubed, or 2 strips of bacon
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • cups heavy cream
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 cups spinach fresh, washed and stems removed
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • cooked pasta or steamed rice optional, for serving over

Instructions

  • Season the chicken all over with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil.
    2 large chicken breasts, Salt and pepper, 1 tbsp oregano, 1 tbsp basil
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken and sear for 4 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for another 4 minutes. Pierce the cutlets with a knife, if juices run clear, set aside, if pink, then sear for another couple of minutes. Remove cutlets from the pan onto a plate.
    1 tbsp olive oil
  • Add the pancetta to the pan and cook, stirring often, until crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
    2 oz pancetta
  • To the same pan, add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until softened and release their juices, about 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper and the red pepper flakes. Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring often.
    8 oz baby bella mushrooms, 3 cloves garlic, ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • Stir in the cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
    1½ cups heavy cream
  • Stir in the cooked pancetta, paprika, ¾ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper. Simmer for 3 minutes.
    1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Add spinach and simmer until wilted. Nestle in the seared chicken and cook for another few minutes, spooning the sauce over the chicken occasionally.
    2 cups spinach
  • Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
    ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • Serve at once over cooked pasta, or steamed rice, if desired. Pass extra Parmesan cheese at the table.
    cooked pasta or steamed rice

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. 
You can increase the number of chicken cutlets to six (from 3 large chicken breasts). The ingredients quantities for the sauce don't need to change, if so. 
Half and half can be substituted for the heavy cream. 
Slice the chicken into strips or leave the cutlets whole for serving. Both are excellent. 
Leftovers reheat wonderfully in a skillet with a little chicken stock (or water) poured in (about 1/2 cup).  Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. We don't recommend freezing the dish ahead of time. 

Nutrition

Calories: 591kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 191mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 1394mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3344IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 280mg | Iron: 3mg