Description
A rich, creamy one-pan chicken skillet featuring seared thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a garlic parmesan sauce. It’s an impressive yet simple meal perfect for dinner parties or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.5 lbs)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 4 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
- Crusty bread (for serving)
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides generously with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs in a single layer (in batches if necessary) for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Stir in heavy cream and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in fresh spinach and let it wilt into the sauce for 1-2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
- Gradually stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
- Return chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over the top. Let sit for a minute to reheat. Garnish with fresh basil and red pepper flakes if using. Serve immediately with crusty bread.
Notes
Do not skip searing the chicken for flavor depth. Use fresh garlic rather than jarred for better taste. Keep heat low when adding cream and cheese to prevent breaking. If serving over pasta, reserve some starchy pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Tuscan chicken, creamy garlic chicken, one pan dinner, chicken skillet, sun-dried tomato chicken, easy dinner party recipe, gluten-free chicken