Creamy Tuscan Chicken Tomatoes (Printable)

Tender chicken cooked in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fragrant herbs for a cozy dinner.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 to 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Creamy Sauce

06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
10 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Vegetables & Finish

14 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil and unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once foaming, add chicken and sear for 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside, loosely covered with foil.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sliced sun-dried tomatoes; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant and oil is infused with flavors.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and low-sodium chicken broth, then stir in grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Mix thoroughly and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
05 - Add chopped baby spinach to the simmering sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until completely wilted. Stir in fresh chopped basil and combine thoroughly.
06 - Return seared chicken to the skillet along with any accumulated juices. Spoon sauce generously over chicken and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through completely.
07 - Transfer chicken and sauce to serving plates. Garnish with additional fresh basil. Serve immediately over your choice of pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like you've been cooking all day, but the whole thing comes together in under 45 minutes.
  • The sauce is so silky and rich that it works over pasta, rice, or potatoes without any fussing.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes add this concentrated sweetness that makes the dish feel special without requiring specialty ingredients.
  • You're basically making a one-skillet dinner, which means minimal cleanup after you've already impressed everyone at the table.
02 -
  • If your sauce looks separated or broken, don't panic; lower the heat and whisk in a splash of cold broth, and it'll come back together within seconds.
  • The difference between this tasting good and tasting restaurant-quality is entirely in the sear on that chicken—rushing through that step will make everything else feel like a shortcut.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes vary wildly in saltiness, so taste your sauce before aggressively salting at the end; you might already have enough.
03 -
  • Brown your butter slightly before adding the chicken, and you'll get an almost nutty depth that elevates the entire dish without any extra effort.
  • Keep your Parmesan at room temperature and add it off the heat so it melts smoothly instead of clumping; this single step is why your sauce looks silky instead of grainy.
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