Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet – Best 30-Minute Dinner

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet is the kind of one-pan dinner that makes a Tuesday feel like a special occasion. Golden-seared chicken breasts simmer in a silky sauce of sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach, garlic, and Parmesan until everything is rich, glossy, and spoon-worthy.

The magic is in the fond - those browned bits stuck to the skillet after searing the chicken get deglazed by the broth and cream, so every bite tastes deeply savory. It comes together in one pan in about 35 minutes, which means fewer dishes and more time at the table.

Serve it over pasta, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up every drop of that sauce. It is a weeknight hero that also looks impressive enough for guests.

About the Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lb / 680g)

Pound them to an even 3/4-inch thickness so they cook uniformly. No chicken breasts? Use 6 boneless thighs and add 3 minutes to the sear time.

1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste

Kosher salt seasons more gently than table salt. If using fine table salt, start with 3/4 tsp and adjust at the end.

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Freshly cracked pepper has far more aroma than pre-ground. A pepper mill is worth the small investment.

2 tbsp olive oil

Use regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat searing. Avocado oil works as a neutral, high-smoke-point swap.

3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tbsp)

Fresh garlic beats jarred every time here. Look for firm, heavy heads with tight papery skins at the store.

1/2 cup (about 60g) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced

Oil-packed tomatoes are softer and more flavorful than dry-packed. If only dry-packed are available, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes first.

1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth

Low-sodium lets you control the seasoning. Vegetable broth works fine for a lighter, meat-free version of the sauce.

1 cup (240ml) heavy cream

For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half, but simmer 2 minutes longer to thicken. Do not use milk - it will curdle.

1/2 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Grate it yourself from a block; pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that make the sauce grainy. Pecorino Romano is a sharper swap.

5 oz (140g) baby spinach

Baby spinach wilts quickly and stays tender. If using mature spinach, remove the stems and cook 1 minute longer.

1 tsp Italian seasoning

A pinch of dried oregano and basil can stand in. Crush it between your palms before adding to release more aroma.

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, for garnish (optional)

Flat-leaf parsley is a fine substitute if basil is out of season. Add it off the heat so it stays bright green.

Tips & Tricks

• Do not crowd the pan when searing the chicken - leave space between pieces so they brown instead of steam. Sear in two batches if your skillet is small.
• Let the cream sauce simmer gently, never boil hard, or it can split. A gentle bubble at the edges is exactly what you want.
• Add the spinach in handfuls and stir it in as it wilts; dumping it all at once drops the pan temperature and makes the sauce watery.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep the Chicken

Pat the chicken breasts dry and pound them to an even 3/4-inch thickness. Season both sides with the salt and pepper and let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.

2. Sear Until Golden

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (about 375F / 190C) until it shimmers. Sear the chicken 5 to 6 minutes per side until deeply golden brown and the internal temperature reads 160F (71C). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.

3. Soften the Aromatics

Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.

4. Deglaze the Pan

Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes until the liquid reduces by about half.

5. Build the Cream Sauce

Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles at the edges, about 190F / 88C) and cook 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.

6. Melt in the Parmesan

Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the Parmesan a handful at a time until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Taste and adjust the salt.

7. Wilt the Spinach

Add the spinach in two or three handfuls, stirring until each batch wilts into the sauce, about 2 minutes total. The sauce should be thick enough to cling to the greens.

8. Return and Serve

Nestle the chicken back into the skillet along with any juices from the plate. Simmer 2 minutes to warm through, then scatter with fresh basil and serve straight from the pan.

Delicious Variations

Pasta Tuscan

Toss 12 oz of cooked penne directly into the sauce and add a splash of pasta water to loosen it.

Mushroom Tuscan

Swap the chicken for 1 lb of sliced cremini mushrooms seared in the same pan for a hearty vegetarian version.

Spicy Tuscan

Add 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a gentle kick that cuts through the richness.

How to Store Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Frequently Asked Questions

If you make this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet, snap a photo and leave a comment below - I would love to hear what you served it with!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet

This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet delivers juicy pan-seared chicken in a garlicky sun-dried tomato cream sauce for a restaurant-worthy dinner.

★★★★½ 4.8 (213 ratings)

15 minPrep time25 minCook time4Servings542 kcalCalories

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🧂 Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lb / 680g)
• 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tbsp)
• 1/2 cup (about 60g) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
• 1 cup (240ml) low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• 1/2 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 5 oz (140g) baby spinach
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, for garnish (optional)

📋 Instructions

1. 1Prep the Chicken — Pat the chicken breasts dry and pound them to an even 3/4-inch thickness. Season both sides with the salt and pepper and let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. 2Sear Until Golden — Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (about 375F / 190C) until it shimmers. Sear the chicken 5 to 6 minutes per side until deeply golden brown and the internal temperature reads 160F (71C). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
3. 3Soften the Aromatics — Lower the heat to medium and add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
4. 4Deglaze the Pan — Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes until the liquid reduces by about half.
5. 5Build the Cream Sauce — Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer (small bubbles at the edges, about 190F / 88C) and cook 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
6. 6Melt in the Parmesan — Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the Parmesan a handful at a time until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Taste and adjust the salt.
7. 7Wilt the Spinach — Add the spinach in two or three handfuls, stirring until each batch wilts into the sauce, about 2 minutes total. The sauce should be thick enough to cling to the greens.
8. 8Return and Serve — Nestle the chicken back into the skillet along with any juices from the plate. Simmer 2 minutes to warm through, then scatter with fresh basil and serve straight from the pan.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Note: The sauce thickens as it sits, so if you are not serving immediately, loosen it with a splash of broth before plating.

Servings: 4

Cuisine: Italian-American

Course: Main Course

Nutrition (per serving): 542 kcal · 41g protein · 14g carbs · 35g fat