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Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken: 1 Hour Comfort

Okay, so sometimes life just calls for something ridiculously comforting, right? That’s exactly where my Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe comes in! This dish is my absolute go-to when I need a seriously flavorful, yet super easy, dinner on the table without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s got that perfect balance of creamy, savory goodness, with pops of tangy sun-dried tomatoes and tender chicken that just melt in your mouth. Honestly, the first time I whipped this up, it was a total happy accident on a crazy Tuesday night, and it quickly became a family favorite.

Why You’ll Love This Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe

Seriously, this Tuscan chicken skillet is a game-changer for so many reasons. If you need a dinner that tastes like you slaved away for hours but is actually super quick, this is it!

  • Weeknight Warrior: We’re talking under 45 minutes from start to finish here. Perfect for those nights when everyone’s starving and you just need delicious food, like, yesterday.
  • Flavor Explosion: The creamy sauce is EVERYTHING. It’s rich, savory, with that bright tang from the sun-dried tomatoes and the fresh bite of spinach. It’s just… *chef’s kiss*.
  • One-Pan Wonder: Less cleanup? Yes, please! Everything cooks right there in one skillet, meaning fewer dishes dirty and more time to actually enjoy your meal (and maybe put your feet up!).
  • Super Versatile: This chicken is fantastic on its own, but it’s also amazing served over pasta, rice, or even with some crusty bread to sop up all that glorious sauce.

Gather Your Ingredients for Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Alright, let’s get our mise en place ready! Having everything prepped makes this Tuscan chicken skillet come together so smoothly. You’ll want to grab these goodies:

For the Chicken

  • About 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into nice, bite-sized 1-inch pieces. Thighs stay so wonderfully juicy here!
  • Your trusty olive oil – just 1 tablespoon to start.
  • A tablespoon of butter for that extra richness.
  • A good pinch or two of salt and some freshly ground black pepper, just to get things seasoned up right.

For the Creamy Tuscan Sauce

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped. This is the base of our amazing flavor!
  • 3 cloves of garlic, all minced up. Don’t be shy with the garlic, it’s key!
  • 1/2 cup of chicken broth. This helps deglaze the pan and adds depth.
  • 1 whole cup of heavy cream. Yep, we’re going for creamy and decadent here!
  • 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese. Salty, nutty goodness.
  • About 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes, drained and roughly chopped. These bring that signature Tuscan tang.
  • 2 cups of fresh spinach. It wilts down beautifully and adds a lovely color and freshness.
  • And of course, a little more salt and pepper to taste at the end.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe

Okay, let’s get cooking! This is where all those amazing ingredients come together. Trust me, it’s easier than it looks and totally worth every second.

Preparing the Chicken

First things first, let’s get that chicken ready to rock. I like to cut my chicken thighs into about 1-inch pieces so they cook evenly and are easy to eat. Once they’re cut, give them a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Get your skillet nice and hot over medium-high heat with that olive oil and butter. When it’s shimmering, carefully add the chicken pieces. You want them to get beautifully browned on all sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan, or they’ll steam instead of sear! Cook them until they’re cooked through, then scoop ‘em out and set them aside on a plate. We’ll bring them back later!

Close-up of Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet with golden-brown chicken pieces, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes in a rich sauce.

Building the Creamy Tuscan Sauce

Now for the magic! In the same skillet, toss in your finely chopped onion. Let it soften up for about 3-5 minutes until it’s nice and translucent. Then, add your minced garlic – wow, that smell! Cook it for just about a minute until you can really smell its fragrance, but be careful not to burn it. Time to deglaze! Pour in the chicken broth and use your spoon to scrape up all those delicious browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. This is pure flavor, folks! Next, pour in the heavy cream and stir in that grated Parmesan cheese and the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Bring this whole glorious mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble away for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the sauce starts to thicken up nicely. Oh, and for an extra kick, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes right when you add the garlic – it’s amazing! If you love creamy pasta, you’ll totally dig this sauce base, just like in my smoked cream cheese pasta recipe.

Finishing Touches for Your Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Almost there! Now, toss in your fresh spinach. It looks like a lot, but don’t worry, it wilts down super fast in the heat of the sauce. Just stir it around for about 2 minutes until it’s tender and vibrant green. Once the spinach is all wilted and happy, return your browned chicken pieces back into the skillet. Give everything a good stir to coat that chicken in all that luscious, creamy sauce. Finally, taste it and add any extra salt and pepper you think it needs. You want it to be just perfect! Seriously, this dish is right up there with my other favorites like lemon garlic chicken and garlic parmesan chicken.

Close-up of Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

Tips for Success with Your Tuscan Chicken

You know, even with a recipe this easy, a few little tricks can really elevate your Tuscan chicken skillet from good to absolutely *unforgettable*. It’s all about the small details, I swear! First off, please, please use *good quality* sun-dried tomatoes. The kind packed in oil offer so much more flavor than the dry ones. And don’t skimp on the heavy cream; it’s what makes that sauce so wonderfully rich and luxurious. If you’re looking to avoid that one common mistake many home cooks make, which is overcrowding the pan (you can read more about it here), make sure to brown your chicken in batches if needed. This ensures you get that gorgeous sear instead of just steaming the chicken, and those browned bits are pure gold for the sauce!

Serving Suggestions for Your Creamy Tuscan Chicken

This luscious Tuscan chicken is pretty much a meal in itself, but to make it a full-blown feast, I’ve got a few favorite ideas! It’s absolutely divine served over a bed of perfectly cooked pasta – think fettuccine, linguine, or even penne. You can find some fantastic pasta dish inspiration right here. Alternatively, spoon it over fluffy rice or quinoa to soak up all that incredible sauce. And don’t forget a side of crusty bread! It’s practically mandatory for dipping into every last drop of that creamy, dreamy sauce. If you want to make your own simple pasta sauce to pair, check out my easy 30-minute recipe!

Close-up of Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a rich sauce.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Leftovers of this amazing Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet are honestly just as good, if not better, the next day! Once it’s cooled down a bit, just pop it into an airtight container and stash it in the fridge. It should keep nicely for about 3-4 days. When you’re ready to reheat, you can gently warm it up in a skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally. If it seems a little too thick, just add a tiny splash of chicken broth or cream to loosen it up. You can also microwave it, but I find the stovetop method keeps that creamy sauce texture best!

Frequently Asked Questions about Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Got questions about this super yummy Tuscan chicken? I’ve got answers!

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?

You absolutely can! Chicken breast works too, but it cooks a little faster and can dry out more easily. If you use breast, make sure not to overcook it when you brown it. Try seasoning it the same way, browning it in batches, and then adding it back in towards the end to keep it nice and tender. The thighs just have that extra bit of fat that makes them extra forgiving and juicy, which is why I usually go for them in this Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe!

How can I make this dish lighter?

If you’re looking for a lighter version, you could try using half-and-half instead of heavy cream, or even a lighter version of cream cheese stirred in. You could also swap out some of the cream for a bit more chicken broth. It won’t be quite as rich, but it’ll still be super flavorful! And of course, serving it over lots of veggies or a lighter carb like quinoa instead of pasta totally helps.

What are good substitutions for sun-dried tomatoes?

No sun-dried tomatoes on hand? No worries! Roasted red peppers, chopped finely, can add a similar sweet and slightly smoky flavor profile. You could also try using canned diced tomatoes (drained really well!) or even some chopped Kalamata olives for a briny kick. It won’t be exactly the same, of course, but it will still be a delicious creamy skillet dish!

Nutritional Information (Estimate)

Just a heads-up, this is an estimate, okay? The exact numbers can wiggle around a bit depending on the brands you use and how big your chicken pieces are. But for a ballpark figure, one serving of this amazing Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe comes in around 550 calories, with about 35g of protein and 40g of fat. It’s a rich dish, for sure, but SO worth it!

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Close-up of Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet with chicken pieces in a rich sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes.

Irresistible Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet Recipe


  • Author: faironplay.com
  • Total Time: 40 min
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

A quick and easy Tuscan chicken recipe with a creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce, perfect for a weeknight dinner.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
  4. Add onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  6. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
  7. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
  8. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
  9. Return chicken to the skillet and stir to coat with sauce.
  10. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

  • Serve over pasta, rice, or with crusty bread.
  • For a spicier dish, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 25 min
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Skillet
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 550
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 450mg
  • Fat: 40g
  • Saturated Fat: 25g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 10g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 150mg

Keywords: Tuscan chicken, creamy chicken, sun-dried tomato chicken, spinach chicken, skillet chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal

Recipe rating