Creamy Tuscan Chicken
755 Comments
Updated Oct 20, 2024
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Win over dinner guests with this simple Tuscan chicken recipe! Juicy chicken breasts are seasoned with Italian spices and seared until golden, then simmered in the most luxurious cream sauce filled with parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, onions and plenty of spinach.
What is Tuscan Chicken?
I’ll admit, I had to do a bit of research on where “Tuscan chicken” actually originated from. But it seems like there’s no one strict answer. My two cents is that it’s a spin on a classic Italian Florentine sauce, which is made from white wine, cream, and spinach. Then it was given a Tuscan twist by adding garlic and sun-dried tomatoes to the warm cream and spinach base.
But what really popularized this dish (at least in America) was Olive Garden’s Tuscan Garlic Chicken, a dish with a similar flavor profile, served over fettuccine.
Either way, I’m glad this Tuscan chicken became a trend because it’s literally the best thing ever. Especially when you’re craving something rich and cheesy, with an Italian flair.
Tuscan Chicken Ingredients
There’s a few ways you can go about making the Tuscan sauce – with fresh cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes and with dairy or dairy-free. For this version, I’m using sun-dried tomatoes since it has a deeper, bolder flavor that just makes this dish pop. And going classic using dairy. But you tweak to your liking! Here’s the ingredients, plus a few substitution ideas:
- Chicken: This dish is typically made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. But you could also use chicken thighs as well if that’s more your thing.
- Italian Seasoning: You can usually find Italian seasoning at the market. If not, just use a mix of mix of individual spices such as oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary.
- Garlic and Onion: Lots of garlic is always welcome. And for onions, you can use white, yellow, or even shallots.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes: After trying several jars from different brands, I came across this jar of sun-dried tomatoes that tasted so fresh and delicious. Plus, it’s the perfect amount for this recipe!
- Spinach: Feel free to go heavy on the baby spinach (I really pack it in the measuring cup) since it wilts down to teeny bits as it cooks!
- Heavy Cream: While dairy-based heavy cream is traditionally used, you have dairy free options as well. You can use a can of coconut cream (not to be confused with coconut milk) or you can make cashew cream at home.
- Cheese: Freshly grated parmesan is the way to go here. For a dairy-free option, nutritional yeast mimics a similar cheesy, nutty flavor.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to Make The Best Tuscan Chicken Recipe
Season and cook the chicken. Season both sides of each chicken breast in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Then warm up a large skillet with some olive oil. Add the chicken, sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, and transfer the chicken to a plate. If your chicken breasts are on the thicker side, you might need an additional minute.
Helpful tip: You can swap olive oil with the sun-dried tomato oil from the jar to give your chicken extra flavor!
Start the tuscan sauce. In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil with the onion, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, and saute for another minute, or until it smells incredibly delicious and fragrant.
Helpful tip: If you want to deglaze the pan a bit more, feel free to pour in a bit of white wine as you’re cooking the onions.
Add the spinach. Pile the spinach in the pan and saute for another minute, until it just starts to wilt down.
Finish the Tuscan sauce. Add the heavy cream and cheese, and stir everything together. Go ahead and let this simmer so all the flavors can meld together.
Tuck the chicken back into the skillet. Using tongs, add the chicken breasts back to the pan. Let the chicken cook for about 5 minutes on the stovetop, or until warmed through, then remove from heat. Just be aware that the sauce will also thicken as it cools!
Ways to Serve Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Make this a full, hearty meal by adding the chicken (and of course large spoonfuls of sauce) on top of rice, lentils, polenta, mashed potatoes, or mashed cauliflower. Any of these options will soak up the sauce beautifully!
Want a side salad? You can whip up this massaged kale salad really quickly, or continue the Mediterranean theme with my Mediterranean Chickpea salad.
Storage Tips
Not gonna lie, you’ll be hard-pressed to have leftovers of this recipe. Because if there’s a chicken breast left in the pan someone is going back for seconds! But here’s how you can store leftovers:
- To store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- To freeze: Freezing is also a smart idea if you want to enjoy this again in the near future. You can store leftovers (or a second batch) in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Tuscan Chicken Recipe Video
Trust me, you’re going to want to see a visual of this recipe with how satisfying it looks on screen. I mean, that creamy drizzle is everything! Follow along with the video when you make it yourself! Click below to watch.
More Favorite Easy Chicken Recipes
If a pack of unused chicken is staring at you – here’s some easy dinner ideas I guarantee you’ll love. And if you need more inspiration, check out my roundups of the best chicken breast recipes or chicken thigh recipes.
- Chicken Piccata
- Chicken Marsala
- Butter Chicken
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Chicken Stir-Fry
- White Chicken Chili
I can’t wait for you to make this Tuscan chicken. I guarantee you’ll have it on repeat when you need something super delicious and impressive. Once you cook this up, let me know your thoughts in a comment below!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Description
Video
Equipment
- Le Creuset Braiser My favorite cast iron enameled braiser pan!
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or a mix of individual spices such as oregano, thyme, basil, and rosemary
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream, *see note above for dairy-free options
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
Instructions
- Prep the chicken. Season both sides of each chicken breast in Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Sear the chicken. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden. Remove the chicken from the pan to a plate and set aside.
- Cook the onions. In the same skillet, add another tablespoon of oil and the onion. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion has softened.
- Add the sun-dried tomatoes and garlic and saute another minute, until fragrant.
- Add the spinach, and saute another minute, until just starting to wilt.
- Add the heavy cream and parmesan cheese, stir together, and bring to a simmer.
- Let it simmer. Place the chicken back in the skillet and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Lisa’s Tips
- If you need some help choosing out a jar of sun-dried tomatoes, I’ve been loving this Alessi brand!
- For dairy-free folks swapping in nutritional yeast, I’d recommend 1 to 2 tablespoons.
- If you have extra large or super thick chicken breasts, you may need to sear them longer in step 2. You could also pound them evenly flat or butterfly each chicken breast for a faster cook time.
- For those who asked about my black-rimmed dinner plates, they don’t make the exact one anymore, but these dinner plates are very similar!
Nutrition
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What a delightful meal that the whole (picky!) family ate!! It came together quickly too: )I didn’t have heavy cream so I used the coconut cream and wowzers, yum!!
Happy to hear this Tuscan chicken was a family favorite with the coconut cream, Lindsay! Now you have a dish you can always come back to that’ll impress.
I’ve made this dish several times . It’s delish. My sis in law wants me to make it for 40 friends for her 60th birthday. Am I undertaking on to much? Would the best thing to do is multiply the recipe 40 ? Help 😆
I love this recipe. It’s in our regular rotation now. I use half ‘n ‘half instead of heavy cream to make it a little less rich for my tast. But the combo of flavors is amazing.
So happy you enjoyed it, Caroline!
So delicious! I could eat it every night. I followed the recipe exactly except I added mushrooms and canned artichoke hearts and double the spinach, just because I always add more vegetables to everything, lol. My husband loved it. we’ll be having this on the regular!
You can never go wrong with additional veggies in this dish. Glad to hear this has now made it into your rotation, Kate!
This dish was absolutely so saucy and delicious! Very easy prep time and it all came together quickly! My husband wanted linguine instead of rice!
I’m sure this tasted amazing with linguine! Glad it was a hit with you and your husband.
I too added mushrooms and then I threw in some zucchini… and served with cheese tortellini pasta. Really delicious! Thanks!
I made this dish today for company. I’m a so-so cook and I’m thrilled with how good it came out. I served wide noodles with it. Everyone loved it. The presentation is good too so I decided to leave it in the pan and have everyone serve themselves. Definitely a winner! Thank you.
Hi Bonnie – Looks like you’re a fabulous cook after all! Glad everyone enjoyed this Tuscan chicken with noodles—sounds delicious!
What a delicious dish!!
It was very easy to make and tasted delicious!
I made small roasted potatoes to accompany the chicken.
Since we had leftovers, I reheated the dish in the oven (after adding a little bit more heavy cream) and steamed asparagus! Quel délice!!
This Tuscan chicken paired with roasted potatoes and asparagus sounds like a dream! Glad this dish was a hit for dinner (and for leftovers), Sophie!
Just finished our delicious Tuscan Chicken Dinner. Thank you for the wonderful easy recipe! Loved by all, you made me look like an excellent cook!
Hi Michele – I’m so glad this Tuscan chicken was a hit! Now you have a fabulous dish to keep in your back pocket for special dinner parties.
Sounds like a great recipe, but how would you lighten up the sauce?
Delicious
Glad you’re loving this Tuscan chicken!
According to my two teenage boys, I should open a restaurant and just serve this dish. Great recipe – didn’t have spinach – but it was still SOOO yummy. Thank you!
Haha, sounds like a great idea! ;)
For a little added flavor add some chopped bacon when sautéing the onion
Bacon is always a great addition!
A touch of nutmeg is a great addition
I made this recipe the other day. It was totally delicious and easy. I was wondering, for a lower calorie and fat content, could I substitute the cream for cottage cheese?
Hi Denise – I haven’t tried that, but I say give it a try!
My favorite recipe. So good you could eat the plate.
Hi Evelyn – Happy to hear you’re loving this Tuscan chicken so much!
I’m confused.. Maybe it’s me but the recipe calls for garlic and I don’t see in any steps??
Hi Kerri – it’s mentioned in step 4 above. :)
My family truly enjoyed this 😋
So happy to hear it!
Delicious! I would definitely recommend using breast tenderloins or butterflying if following these cooking times. I did 4-5min each side on medium-high and added them back to the “sauce” a few min later and found they were only at 125°. I had to cook them much longer than the 5min recommended and my sauce wanted to curdle. Next time I will definitely sear/cook them until 150-155° before removing from heat and starting the sauce. Delicious flavor though and put on some Costco cheese and spinach ravioli.
We all loved this recipe. Very easy to make and absolutely delicious! I love hearing, please make this again from my family. I would make for guests as well. Highly recommend.
Sounds like this Tuscan chicken was a hit, Lynn!
Very good. I made it with coconut cream. My husband and mother-in-law really liked it.
Hi Kathy – That’s great to hear everyone enjoyed this Tuscan chicken, even with the coconut cream!
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of cream and cook in slow cooker.
This recipe is amazing!
The combination of all the bright flavors is absolutely perfect!
I made this first at the request of my fiancé and ever since that first bite of creamy, garlicky deliciousness with that burst of sun-dried tomato, we were both hooked! On our “Favorites” for sure!
Sounds like your fiance was right to choose this recipe to make! Happy to hear it’s now on your favorites list, Jewel.
A definite A+ in our home. Easy to make and oh so delicious and healthy. Appreciate recommending side dishes as well for a for a beautiful presentation. Already shared the recipe with guests and your website. The video was helpful in hurrying along the process. Thank you!
Happy to hear this Tuscan chicken has been such a hit with friends and family, Bonnie! Glad the video and side dish recommendations were helpful as well.
Could you make this a few hours ahead and just leave it warm in a croc pot?
Amazing recipe. I have cooked this many times. It is well balanced in flavours. I have also shared this with friends who are also using this recipe on a regular dinner rotation.
Hi Melanie, thanks for sharing this recipe! Sounds like it’s been such a hit for both you and your friends. Hope you all continue to enjoy this dish for years to come.
This is just one of many recipes that are a staple! Love this variety of scents and tastes!
Thrilled to hear you’re loving this Tuscan chicken!
Lisa this recipe is awesome
Fresh tasty and savory and satisfying
My family loved it
Hi Kim – Happy to hear the whole family loved this Tuscan chicken!
I’ve made this receipe a few times, so good and simple.
Thrilled to hear you’re loving this Tuscan chicken, Nora!
Hi
As a cook I’m very average but this recipe made me look like a champion
Fantastic, thankyou
You’re more than welcome, Bill! So glad you enjoyed it.
This was a winner winner chicken dinner. Love that it had some veggies in it with the spinach; you can never have too much!
I agree, the more veggies the better! And I also agree that it’s a winner winner chicken dinner, haha. ;)
Love this recipe. I use chicken tenders and use 1.2 pounds.
Thanks 🙏
Carrie
Glad this dish turned out great with chicken tenders instead, Carrie!
Love the flavor. Anyone have an idea how to make the sauce a little thicker??