Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe For Two (2024)

Creamy Tuscan Chicken is a delicious and comforting Italian inspired meal that is perfect to serve on a cold winter day. With the combination of juicy chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh baby spinach tossed in a smooth, rich sauce, this dish is packed full of flavor.

Although you can serve it as the main dish along comforting side dishes such as potatoes or rice, it is most often served over a bed of tender pasta. The noodles help to soak up that delicious, creamy sauce, however I would highly suggest also adding a slice of crusty French bread to your plate to make sure not a drop of the sauce goes to waste.

Not only is this meal full of delicious flavor, it is easy to make and only requires one pan! Therefore it is the perfect meal to make on a busy weeknight, yet it is elegrant enough to serve for a special occasion.

Why You Will Love This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

1. The Flavor: The rich, creamy sauce is what makes this chicken taste so amazing. With just a few basic ingredients you will have the perfect sauce that adds a ton of flavor to the chicken.

2. Moist and Juicy Chicken: By using thin pieces of chicken and a quick searing process the chicken remains moist and juicy. Then when combined with the sauce, you are guaranteed that each bite is fall apart tender.

3. Nutritional Value: Not only does the chicken adds a good amount of protein, the sun-dried tomatoes and spinach add a good amount of nutrition as well. They are both packed with fiber, minerals and antioxidants and it is a great way to get extra greens into your diet, but in a delicious way.

Even when served over a bed of spaghetti noodles, each serving remains under 900 calories. That isn’t bad when you consider you are indulging in a delicious comfort food meal that will keep you feeling full for hours!

However, there are many ways to adapt this recipe to make it even healthier. I have listed some common recipe variations below, just in case you want to do so.

Common Recipe Modifications

Although creamy tuscan chicken is inspired by the classic Tuscan dish, it is also a very versatile that you can customize to your taste and dietary preferences.

Replace the cream with half and half or whole milk: For a lighter version, you can use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream. However keep in mind that the sauce will be thinner and less creamy.

Switch up the greens: Not a spinach fan or don’t have any in the refrigerator? Feel free to substitute spinach with fresh arugula, kale or Swiss chard. Each variety will give you a little different flavor and texture.

Sun-dried tomatoes substitute: Slice a few cherry tomatoes in half and roast them instead of using sun-dried tomatoes.

Cheese: Replace the cheese with Pecorino Romano cheese or grated Asiago if you are looking for more bold flavor.

Spices: If you like a little spice in your food, add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce. Add a little if you are looking for just a hint of heat, or add more if you want to spice up the creamy Tuscan chicken sauce.

Add More Vegetables: Throw in a handful of frozen peas or sliced mushrooms for more nutrition, texture and flavor.

Serving Suggestions: Although this dish is most often served over a bed of spaghetti noodles, you can use whatever type of pasta that you prefer. Or instead of pasta, serve it over a bed of white rice or alongside mashed potatoes. However, for a lower carb option that is still very filling serve it with roasted vegetables, cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles and/or a side salad.

Storing & Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftovers in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I do not recommend freezing the leftovers as the sauce will separate when frozen.

Reheat leftovers in a microwave safe dish in 1-2 minute intervals. However be sure to add a splash of water or milk over the leftovers as the pasta will have absorbed some of the sauce when stored.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 3⁄4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1⁄8 cup sweet onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1⁄8 cup jarred sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil & thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1⁄4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• hot pepper flakes, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Slice each breast in half lengthwise, so you have 2 thin breasts. If one side of the chicken is much thicker than the other, pound the thicker side out so that each breast is equal thickness across.

2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Then place the flour in a small shallow bowl. Place each breast in the flour and flip to coat both sides. Shake off any excess flour and place the chicken breasts on a plate and set aside. *For a gluten-free version use 100% cornstarch in place of the flour.

3. Place a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and let it melt. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown in color. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Preparing the Creamy Tuscan Chicken Sauce

4. Next, add the remaining butter to the skillet and let it melt. Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes or until onions just begin to turn translucent. Then, add the garlic and cook just until fragrant (30 seconds – 1 minute).

5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the diced sun-dried tomatoes and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes.

6. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cream into the skillet and stir. Maintain a very light simmer until the cream slightly reduces, about 4-5 minutes.

7. Add the Parmesan cheese into the cream mixture and stir until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes smooth. Then, add the spinach leaves to the skillet and stir until they have wilted, about 3-4 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes to taste.

Add the chicken breasts back into the skillet. Spoon some creamy tuscan chicken sauce over the chicken and flip and spoon more sauce over the other side. Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F when checked with an instant read digital thermometer.

Last, serve warm with a serving of mashed potatoes, or over rice or noodles.

Enjoy!

Other Italian Inspired Recipe That You May Like

• Instant Pot Minestrone Soup
• Chicken Piccata Recipe
• Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Chicken breasts cooked in a creamy & cheesy Tuscan sauce infused with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh baby spinach leaves. The perfect comfort food recipe for two!

Ingredients

• 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 3⁄4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1⁄8 cup sweet onion, diced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1⁄8 cup jarred sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil & thinly sliced
• 3⁄4 cup heavy cream
• 1⁄4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• hot pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

1. Slice each breast in half lengthwise, so you have 2 thin breasts. If one side of the chicken is much thicker than the other, pound the thicker side out so that each breast is equal thickness across.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Then place the flour in a small shallow bowl. Place each breast in the flour and flip to coat both sides. Shake off any excess flour and place the chicken breasts on a plate and set aside.
3. Place a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet and let it melt. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown in color. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
4. Add the remaining butter to the skillet and let it melt. Add the onion and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes or until onions just begin to turn translucent. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant (30 seconds - 1 minute).
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the diced sun-dried tomatoes and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes.
6. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the cream into skillet and stir. Maintain a very light simmer until the cream slightly reduces, about 4-5 minutes.
7. Add the Parmesan cheese into the cream mixture and stir until the cheese melts and the mixture becomes smooth.
8. Add the spinach leaves to the skillet and stir until they have wilted, about 3-4 minutes.
9. Season with salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes, to taste.
10. Add the chicken breasts back into skillet. Spoon some sauce over the chicken and flip and spoon more sauce over the other side. Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through to an internal temperature of 160°F when checked with an instant read digital thermometer.
11. Serve warm with a serving of mashed potatoes, or over rice or noodles.

Notes

• Gluten-Free option: replace the flour with 100% pure cornstarch.

Recipe provided by iCookfortwo.com

Nutrition Information

Yield 2
Amount Per ServingCalories 669Total Fat 49gSaturated Fat 30gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 16gCholesterol 189mgSodium 527mgCarbohydrates 28gFiber 4gSugar 5gProtein 31g

Nutritional Information is to be used as a general guideline only . Nutritional calculations will vary from the types and brands of the products used.