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A wide tabletop view of a cast-iron skillet filled with Creamy Tuscan Chicken in a rich sauce alongside a bowl of pasta, prepared for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.

Best Creamy Tuscan Chicken Easy Impressive Christmas Dinner

Rich, creamy Tuscan chicken with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and parmesan restaurant-quality in 30 minutes. Sun-dried tomato oil secret, stable cream sauce method, and complete Christmas make-ahead timeline included.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Christmas, Dinner, Holiday, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 512
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 medium Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 6 to 7 oz each, pounded ¾-inch
  • 2 tbsp Sun-Dried Tomato Oil from the jar the secret ingredient
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper
  • ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
  • ½ tsp Garlic Powder
Creamy Tuscan Sauce
  • ½ cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes oil-packed, drained and chopped
  • 5 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 large Shallot finely diced
  • ¼ cup Dry White Wine Pinot Grigio optional
  • ½ cup Chicken Broth low-sodium
  • 1 cup Heavy Cream add at medium-low heat
  • 2 Oz Cream Cheese softened sauce stability secret
  • ¾ cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated block never pre-grated
  • 3 cups Fresh Baby Spinach wilts to about 1 cup
  • 2 tbsp Fresh Basil chiffonade add off heat only
  • ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional
  • - - Salt and Pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet or Cast Iron 12-inch minimum
  • 1 Meat Mallet or Rolling Pin for even thickness
  • 1 Microplate or Box Grater for fresh parmesan
  • 1 Instant Read Thermometer for chicken doneness
  • - Paper Towels for drying chicken

Method
 

Sear the Chicken
  1. Prep Chicken Pat dry. Pound to even ¾-inch thickness. Season all surfaces with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder.
    Hands patting dry and seasoning chicken breasts on a ceramic plate for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
  2. Sear in Sun-Dried Tomato Oil Heat 2 tbsp sun-dried tomato oil in large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side do not move during searing. Chicken will not be cooked through. Remove to plate. Leave drippings in pan.
    Searing seasoned chicken breasts in a skillet using sun-dried tomato oil for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
Build the Sauce
  1. Aromatics Reduce heat to medium. Cook shallot in pan drippings 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic 60 seconds. Add sun-dried tomatoes 30 seconds. Add wine if using simmer 1 to 2 minutes until reduced by half.
    Shallots, minced garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes sizzling in a cast-iron skillet for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
  2. Cream Sauce Add chicken broth. Bring to gentle simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream slowly while stirring. Add cream cheese in small pieces stir each piece until incorporated before adding more.
    Preparing a rich, velvety cream sauce with broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
  3. Return Chicken Nestle chicken in sauce. Spoon sauce over each piece. Simmer gently on medium-low for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) when checked with an instant-read food thermometer. Do not rely on cooking time alone to determine doneness.
    Spoon creamy sauce over seared chicken breasts nestled in a skillet for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
Finish
  1. Parmesan and Spinach Remove from heat or lowest setting. Add freshly grated parmesan in three additions stir after each until melted. Add spinach stir gently until wilted 1 to 2 minutes.
    Fresh spinach and grated parmesan cheese being stirred into a creamy sauce in a skillet for Creamy Tuscan Chicken.
  2. Basil and Serve Add fresh basil off heat heat blackens fresh basil instantly. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with extra parmesan, basil leaves, sun-dried tomato strips. Serve over pasta or mashed potatoes immediately.
    A plated serving of sliced Creamy Tuscan Chicken over pasta garnished with basil and sun-dried tomatoes.

Notes

Sauce breaking?
Heat too high, cold cream added too fast, or pre-grated parmesan used. Fix: reduce heat before cream, add cream slowly, use freshly grated block parmesan. Emergency: whisk in 1 to 2 tbsp cold cream off heat.
Sun-dried tomato oil?
Save 2 tbsp from the jar before draining. The most impactful free upgrade in this recipe. Do not skip.
 
Make ahead for Christmas?
Make sauce base 2 days ahead stop before parmesan and spinach. Reheat gently Christmas day. Add parmesan, spinach, basil fresh before serving. 20 minutes active time on Christmas day.
Chicken thighs?
Substitute directly. Add 5 to 7 minutes to simmer time. Juicier but less refined presentation.
Alcohol-free?
Replace wine with 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar + 2 additional tbsp chicken broth.