This easy Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken recipe will soon become a weeknight dinner favorite. It is made in one pot and takes just 30 minutes to make. The juicy chicken breasts are served in a creamy parmesan sauce that is loaded with fresh garlic, tomatoes, and spinach. (Keto-Friendly)
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WHAT IS TUSCAN CHICKEN?
Tuscan Chicken is a spin on a traditional Italian Florentine sauce. This classic sauce is made from white wine, cream, and spinach. It is then given a Tuscan twist by adding lots of garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the cream and spinach base.
The American restaurant, Olive Garden, is what made Tuscan Garlic Chicken so highly popular. It is a favorite menu item with a similar flavor profile that is served over fettuccine.
An easy Tuscan chicken dinner recipe
This delicious and easy chicken recipe is perfect for a midweek dinner. It takes just 30 minutes to make and it is all made in one skillet.
The rich creamy sauce whisks together perfectly and uses familiar, pantry-staple ingredients you already love. The creamy garlic sauce is rich and full of flavor from the creamy parmesan cheese and tangy sundried tomatoes.
The spinach, Tuscan dried herbs, parmesan cheese, and tomatoes all give this dish a delicious Italian flavor that is restaurant quality. The juicy chicken breasts are perfectly seasoned and seared until deliciously golden brown.
This high-protein meal is also Keto-diet friendly as there is no flour or pasta, but rather lots of cream, cheese, and chicken. This Tuscan chicken dish can be served as is, or you can serve it over pasta, rice, or pair it with your favorite side dishes depending on your diet and preferences.
Another quick & easy midweek meal to try is my Avocado Pesto Pasta or try these easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets. It is also always a dinner-time favorite! For another easy chicken recipe try my Parmesan & Panko Crusted Chicken recipe.
Ingredients you will need to make Tuscan Garlic Chicken
This simple Italian dish uses a few familiar and easy-to-find ingredients that come together to make a tasty midweek meal. The ingredients you will need to make Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken are as follows:
- Olive oil & butter: To perfectly cook your chicken and garlic. You can substitute with avocado oil or pumpkin seed oil if preferred.
- Chicken breasts: I'm always a big supporter of buying local, so I make sure my chickens are from my country and if possible from a local farm in my area. Not only does it help reduce your carbon footprint but it also supports the local economy and you always know where your chicken comes from. So that means you can make sure the animals are treated ethically and that the food you're eating is safe.
- Spices: paprika, salt, black pepper.
- Onion & garlic: Classic ingredients in Italian cooking that adds tons of flavor to this dish. For onions, you can use white, yellow, or even shallots.
- Sundried tomatoes: Add a delicious acidic tang to the sauce. They create a deeper and more intense flavor profile in the sauce in comparison to fresh cherry tomatoes.
- Baby spinach: Adds a boost of nutrition and color to the sauce.
- Heavy cream: Creates the rich and creamy base of the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Use freshly grated if possible.
- Herbs: Classic Tuscan Italian herbs - both dried and fresh.
Find the printable recipe with detailed measurements at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken
This creamy chicken dish is simple to prepare. It takes just 30 minutes and it is all made in one skillet. Follow the step-by-step instructions below or find the full recipe card at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE
Prepare the chicken. Season both sides of the chicken breasts well. Heat a large skillet with some olive oil. Add the seasoned chicken and sear until golden, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove and transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. (If your chicken breasts are on the thicker side, you might need an additional minute.)
STEP TWO
Cook the onions and garlic. Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet along with the onion. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the garlic, and saute for another minute.
STEP THREE
Add tomatoes and spinach. Once the onions are soft, add the tomatoes and spinach and saute slightly until the spinach starts to wilt.
STEP FOUR
Add cream and herbs. Pour in the cream and add the Tusacan dried herbs. Bring to a gentle simmer.
STEP FIVE
Stir in the cheese. Add the parmesan cheese to the cream sauce and mix together well.
STEP SIX
Finish the dish. Add the chicken breasts back into the skillet and let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Remove from the heat and serve warm as desired.
Recipe adaptions:
- You can swap out the chicken for salmon or shrimp. The rich garlic cream sauce will pair perfectly with these meat alternatives.
- You can add a little spice to this dish by including a pinch of red chili flakes in the sauce. The spicy kick is a delicious addition.
- You can use fresh kale or collards in the sauce instead of spinach if you prefer.
- If you like mushrooms, you can add any variety to this dish!
Recipe Tips & Notes
Bake the chicken. If you’d like, you can bake the chicken breasts in the oven, but the sauce will still need to be made on the stovetop. Once the chicken is done baking, add it to the skillet with the sauce, then serve as desired.
Double the recipe. If your skillet is large enough, you can easily double this recipe. The sauce will take a bit longer to thicken, but other than that, the recipe will be the same.
Thicken the sauce. If you want a thicker cream sauce, simply add a cornstarch/water mixture to help thicken it. Use one tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with one tablespoon of cold water for each cup of sauce you want to thicken.
Storage Instructions
You can store any leftovers of this dish in an airtight container in a fridge or freezer. It can be stored in a fridge for 3 - 4 days, or 6 months in a freezer.
Heat the Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken leftovers on the stovetop. To prevent the cream sauce from curdling, stir it well when reheating it. Add additional chicken broth or cream if your sauce is breaking or if you need to thin it out.
How to make ahead:
Although this is a very quick meal to prepare, you can also prepare it ahead of time. To make Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken ahead of time you can prepare the sauce and store it in your fridge.
Prepare the sauce as per the recipe, let it cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
The sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. When ready to use, reheat over medium-low heat. If you need to thin it out, add a splash of chicken broth, milk, or water.
What to serve with Garlic Tuscan Chicken
- Spaghetti squash or pumpkin - EASY AIR FRYER PUMPKIN is a great, easy option!
- Your favorite pasta dish - check out our easy ONE POT PINK SAUCE PASTA!
- Zucchini noodles
- Steamed vegetables
- Riced cauliflower or cauliflower mash
- EASY CRACK GREEN BEANS
- Crusty bread
- CLASSIC THERMOMIX MASHED POTATOES
Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken
This easy Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken recipe will soon become a dinner favorite. It is made in one-pot and takes just 30 minutes to make. The juicy chicken breasts are served in a creamy parmesan sauce that is loaded with fresh garlic, tomatoes, and spinach. (Keto-friendly)
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
Creamy Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 small onions, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 8 oz baby spinach
- 1 ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
1. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika.
2. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over a medium-high heat.
3. Cook chicken for 5 - 7 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken from the skillet and add the butter.
5. Once the butter has melted, add the garlic and onion and cook for 2 - 3 minutes, or until onions have softened.
6. Add the tomatoes and spinach and cook until spinach has just wilted - about 2 minutes.
7. Add the cream and dried herbs and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Stir in the parmesan cheese and add the chicken back to the skillet.
9. Allow to heat for 2 minutes and then serve with fresh basil.
Notes
- You can swap out the chicken for salmon or shrimp. The rich garlic cream sauce will pair perfectly with these meat alternatives.
- You can add a little spice to this dish by including a pinch of red chili flakes in the sauce. The spicy kick is a delicious addition.
- You can use fresh kale or collards in the sauce instead of spinach if you prefer.
- If you like mushrooms, you can add any variety to this dish!
I hope you love this Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken recipe as much as I do! And if you want to see more of my food adventures, follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
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