Tuscan Chicken : This Italian-inspired dish is a crowd-pleaser, combining tender chicken breasts with a rich, creamy sauce featuring garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach.
What is Tuscan Chicken?
Tuscan Chicken is a classic Italian dish that typically consists of pan-seared chicken breasts served with a creamy sauce made from heavy cream, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. The sauce is often complemented with spinach for a hint of freshness and color.
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Tuscan Chicken
- Pound Chicken Evenly: To ensure even cooking, use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before searing. This prevents some pieces from overcooking while others remain underdone.
- Use Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Oil: Opt for sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil for a richer flavor and softer texture. Be sure to drain them before chopping to avoid excess oil in the sauce.
- Adjust the Creaminess: For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the heavy cream with whole milk or even coconut milk for a dairy-free twist.
- Don’t Skip the Searing: Searing the chicken before simmering it in the sauce adds a delicious depth of flavor. It’s worth taking the extra few minutes!
Delicious Variations
- Mushroom Tuscan Chicken: Add sliced mushrooms to the sauce for an earthy twist. Sauté them with the garlic before adding the cream for the best results.
- Keto Tuscan Chicken: Swap out the sun-dried tomatoes for cherry tomatoes and use a low-carb cream option. This keeps the dish rich while staying keto-friendly.
- Dairy-Free Version: Use coconut cream instead of heavy cream and nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan for a dairy-free version that’s still creamy and delicious.
- Shrimp Tuscan Style: Replace the chicken with large shrimp for a seafood twist on this classic dish. Just be sure to cook the shrimp only until they are pink and opaque, which usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
How to Serve Tuscan Chicken
Tuscan Chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some of my favorites:
- With Pasta: Serve over fettuccine or spaghetti to soak up all that creamy sauce. It’s a match made in heaven!
- Over Mashed Potatoes: The creamy sauce is perfect with fluffy mashed potatoes, making for an ultra-comforting meal.
- With Crusty Bread: A warm loaf of crusty bread is ideal for mopping up every last bit of the sauce.
- With Roasted Vegetables: For a lighter option, serve alongside roasted vegetables like asparagus or zucchini.
How to Store and Reheat Tuscan Chicken
If you have leftovers (though it’s so tasty, you might not!), storing Tuscan Chicken is easy:
- Storage: Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or cream to help loosen up the sauce. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
Pro Tip: If the sauce thickens too much in the fridge, add a little chicken broth or water to thin it out while reheating.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make Tuscan Chicken in advance?
Yes, you can make this dish a day in advance and store it in the fridge. The flavors will meld together nicely. Just reheat gently to avoid overcooking the chicken.
What can I use instead of heavy cream?
Half-and-half or evaporated milk can be used as lighter substitutes. For a non-dairy version, try coconut cream or cashew cream.
Is Tuscan Chicken gluten-free?
Yes, Tuscan Chicken is naturally gluten-free! Just make sure any broth or seasoning you use is gluten-free if you’re serving someone with gluten sensitivity.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely! Chicken thighs are a great option and add even more richness to the dish. Just adjust the cooking time as thighs may take a few extra minutes to cook through.
What is the best way to thicken the sauce?
If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer a bit longer to reduce. You can also add a slurry made of 1 teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water to the sauce while it simmers.
Tuscan Chicken
Tuscan Chicken : This Italian-inspired dish is a crowd-pleaser, combining tender chicken breasts with a rich, creamy sauce featuring garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach.
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or a mix of oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
Instructions
- Rub both sides of each chicken breast with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for a flavor-packed base.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet, then sauté the chopped onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Toss in the baby spinach and cook for about a minute, just until it begins to wilt.
- Pour in the heavy cream and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Let the sauce come to a gentle simmer.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the creamy sauce. Let everything cook together for about 5 minutes until the chicken is heated through and infused with all those rich flavors.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 502Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 23gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 494mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 15g
Chickenrecipes.blog, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Final Thoughts
Tuscan Chicken is the ultimate comfort food, bringing the warmth and flavor of Italian cooking right to your table. With its creamy garlic sauce, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and a handful of fresh spinach, it’s a meal that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen—even though it comes together in just 30 minutes!
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