This creamy Tuscan chicken recipe is fast, easy, and totally delicious. You will love the creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and fresh spinach! Ready in 25 minutes.
This creamy Tuscan garlic chicken recipe is a favorite in my house. The chicken is pan-fried to golden perfection. It's just so tender and melts in your mouth. And that sauce... mmm! π
What is Tuscan chicken? Well.. this recipe was actually inspired by the Olive Garden (an American restaurant chain) and made super popular by Pinterest. As such, there are many variations online. I had to put my own twist on it.
This simple creamy chicken recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, but it's also good enough for serving company. You'll want to make it again and again. Easy comfort food right here!
How to make Tuscan chicken
- Cut chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have thinner cutlets. Season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder; dredge them in flour;
- Heat the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan fry the chicken for 4-5 minutes/side until golden. Remove chicken from the skillet;
- Add the chicken broth and mustard to the pan, followed by the cream, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes;
- Add the chicken back in and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce thickened. Add basil and salt & pepper as needed.
(Full ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below)
Recipe notes & tips:
- I always receive questions on whether you can substitute the cream for something else (milk, half-and-half, etc.). I don't recommend it because there's a chance the sauce may separate/curdle and it will end up thinner and less flavorful. With that said, you can always experiment, especially if you're used to tweaking sauces. Also, you may want to check out the comments to see if anyone else has tried something different and offered their suggestions.
- I cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so that the chicken pieces cook faster and more evenly so they remain tender. You can use four smaller chicken breasts, but you will need to cook them a bit longer. Use an instant read thermometer to ensure they're cooked to 165F in the thickest part.
- If sun-dried tomatoes aren't your thing, you could definitely sub them for fresh tomatoes. I suggest using a handful of grape or cherry tomatoes.
- You can leave the basil out if you're in a pinch and don't have any.
- The Dijon mustard adds extra flavor to sauces - don't worry, it doesn't make the sauce taste mustardy. I always keep some in my fridge because you never know when you'll need it!
- For extra deliciousness, grate some parmesan over top just before serving.
What to serve with creamy Tuscan chicken?
Serve it with rice, mashed potatoes, or over pasta. It also goes well with a green salad.
I have several other recipes with the spinach/sun-dried tomato/garlic/cream combo that you may like:
- Creamy Tuscan Ravioli (One Pan, 15 Minutes!)
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Recipe
- Tuscan Sausage Pasta
- Easy Creamy Tuscan Shrimp Recipe
- Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe
Will you make this easy Tuscan chicken recipe? It's soo good.
Love creamy chicken breast recipes? You may also like my Creamy Garlic Chicken with whole garlic cloves or my Creamy White Wine Chicken.
Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below or if you've tried this recipe.
Have you made this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts sliced lengthwise
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Flour for dredging
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 2 cups (loosely packed) fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (see note)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Cut the chicken in half lengthwise. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and garlic powder on both sides. Coat in flour.
- Melt the oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes/side or until golden. Take the chicken out of the pan and set aside.
- Deglaze the pan with the chicken broth and Dijon mustard. Scrape up any brown bits and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the cream, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. Add the chicken back to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce reduces a bit.
- Stir in the basil and season with extra salt & pepper if needed. Serve immediately.
Notes
- If the sun-dried tomatoes are not packed in oil, you may want to add a bit more - the oil-packed ones taste more concentrated. I drain the oil prior to adding them to the pan.
- If you have particularly small chicken breasts, I recommend leaving them whole and cooking them for a few minutes longer.
- This is the copper skillet that's pictured (you can use any skillet for this recipe).
Jay says
I just made this for my wife and me tonight. It is absolutely fantastic. Not being the cook between the two of us, it was still fairly simple to prepare. We are eating low carb at the moment and used baking powder instead of flour and still had perfectly browned chicken. I also used Italian seasoning instead of just basil. Thank you for such a versatile recipe. We can't wait to try it again with different proteins.
Natasha says
I'm so glad it worked out for you! π You're very welcome. I do have various "Tuscan" recipes with this flavor combo - some are linked within the blog post, or just type "Tuscan" into the search bar and they'll come up for you.
Diana says
Loved this!
I used coconut milk instead of cream and added a little more Dijon. Served it with mashed potatoes. So good!
Natasha says
Wonderful! So glad it worked out for you.
Susan Plummer says
I made it and it was great. I served linguine under the Tuscan Chicken.
Natasha says
Excellent! So glad you enjoyed it, Susan!
Kathy says
Iβve made it twice! Huge hit!!!
Natasha says
Wonderful! Thank you π
Leigh Zaleon says
Tried this tonight made in the Instant Pot. Delicious!!!! Will definitely make it again.
Natasha says
Excellent!
D. Schuster says
I am not a very good cook, but I'd like to try this tonight. Can you be more descriptive on how to cut the raw chicken? I'm confused about what slicing it lengthwise means. Thank you! Looks so yummy!
Natasha says
Hi! You're cutting them so you've got 4 equal-sized thinner pieces. Here's a blog post that explains the process with photos and a video: https://www.seasonedkitchen.com/butterflying-chicken-breasts
Kristina says
Hello! We are so excited to try this! Would it work with canned or frozen spinach? We donβt have fresh readily available, and Iβm not sure how to sub the other variations, if possible. Thanks!
Natasha says
Hi! I think it will work. I haven't tried canned spinach before, but I think frozen will be ok if you thaw it and then squeeze the water out of it very well. It'll kinda come apart a bit more (the fresh leaves wilt but retain their shape), but I think if you add it in towards the end of cooking, it'll be ok. You may have to make this a couple times to figure out exactly how much you like to include in there.
Vivian Staten says
Hi
Can I subsiture spinach with broccoli
Thanks
Natasha says
Yes, but you may want to cook the broccoli separately because it'll take longer to cook unless you like it very crisp.
Tammy says
Tried this for the first time with my family of four - 2 kids home from college. One of the few recipes we all like! I served with egg noodles and roasted zucchini - so I got a double serving in of veggies! Thanks for a great recipe! We will be making again for sure and exploring your site for more great recipes!
Natasha says
That's great!! π You're welcome! So glad you found my website.
Mimi Malesky says
Followed the recipe exactly. It was delicious. My husband loved it! Will definitely make it again and of course share this with my sisters.
Quick and Easy just like promised. Thanks so much!
Natasha says
Awesome!! π You're welcome XO
Jessica says
I made this for the first time today for my family and they love it!! Thank you so much for this awesome recipe.
Natasha says
Wonderful! You're welcome!
Pat says
Can I freeze this
Natasha says
You can if you really need to, but cream sauces don't typically freeze/thaw that well. They often separate (especially if warmed on a high heat like in a microwave), so I would be sure to re-warm on a low heat. The spinach will also be even more wilted. I think it'll still taste fine, but it's not an ideal recipe for freezing.
Moe says
If the cream sauce is leftovers, how do you reheat the next day? Will it break up into oil?
Natasha says
I would reheat on a low heat. That can definitely happen if you let it boil. Sometimes adding a splash more cream can save it if that happens.
nancy says
Another hit! The whole family including two little
Ones loved it. Adding it to the dinner rotation. Plus - it took less than 30 minutes! Thank you so much!
Natasha says
Yay!! You're very welcome, Nancy!
Alexis Reehal says
Is chicken broth the same as chicken stock?
Natasha says
Itβs pretty close. You can definitely use either!
Alexis Reehal says
Thank you, made your creamy garlic chicken the other night my son said if it wasn't for etiquette he would lick the plate result π thank you so much. I'm Scottish do you have any haggis recipes at all?
Natasha says
Haha that's awesome!! I don't have any haggis recipes. It's so hard to get good haggis here (Edmonton Canada).
Quick Login says
I make this fairly regularly, sometimes paleo with coconut milk and spag squash, other times as is written and just wanted to make the suggestion that jullianing the dry sundried tomatos and simmering prior to adding spinach and chicken gave them a wonderful texture. Also, I freeze bags of spinach when they start to turn and putting the frozen in where the recipe calls for fresh works like a darn too. Love this and your Tuscan shrimp recipe like crazy!
Natasha says
Good tips, thank you!! π Glad you like the recipe!
Suzi says
DELISH! We are a dairy and nut free home, so I used butter substitute and soy milk. It turned out PERFECT!
Natasha says
I'm so glad to hear you were able to adapt it, Suzi!
Kaitiana says
Wow! I just made this dish with all purpose gluten free flour and pasta (from trader Joe's), also subbed the cream for coconut cream (I don't do dairy or gluten)
It's phenomenal!!!
Natasha says
I am so happy it worked out for you!!
Ginger says
Which gluten free flour would you suggest? TIA
Natasha says
No idea... I don't intentionally cook gluten-free, I'm afraid π
Dani says
I used rice flour, and it was excellent!
Natasha says
Great!!
Marga says
Super love this recipe and easy to make!! I ate this with rice but will try eating it with pasta too π All of your recipes that i've tried never failed they were all delish and easy to make!! π
Natasha says
So happy to hear it! β₯οΈ
Jackie says
Cant wait to try this. Your recipes are the best! Donβt use cream gue to stomach problems. Can I substitute with yogurt?
Natasha says
Hi! So glad you like my recipes!! π Honestly, yogurt will give it a totally different texture and taste. You could try, but it won't be the same recipe. Let me know if you do make it.. I'm curious, and other readers probably have the same question!
Lori says
Since finding this recipe I have made it several times. It's always impressive and delicious. And even better than that it is a quick dish to prepare. Thanks so much for this fantastic addition to my weeknight dinner selections!
Natasha says
So happy to hear it, Lori! Thanks for the review! π
Gemma says
Iβm looking at making this tonight and Iβm from the UK. Are your measurements for the cream and broth imperial or US cups? Thank you
Natasha says
Hi Gemma! US cups π
Jeremiah says
I just want to say when I find a recipe on the internet I always talk myself out of making it for my family. Something doesnβt seem right or whatever reason... however I never have that problem with your recipes... my family always loves them!
Natasha says
Aww that's a great compliment! So pleased they've worked out for you. I definitely try hard to make my recipes easy to follow. π
Kara says
Delicious, thanks for a great recipe! I used cream cheese instead of cream. The chicken ended up with a nice coating/ texture on the outside, so we decided to serve on the side rather than putting it back into the sauce. My husband loved it that way!
Natasha says
So glad it worked out, Kara! π
Taylor says
Love this recipe. Canβt wait to try the pasta version!
Natasha says
Thanks so much, Taylor! Let me know if you make it. Thanks for leaving me a comment! π
Zoe says
Delicious recipe! Made with rice and it kept awesome for leftovers for lunch the next day! I added extra sundried toms!
Natasha says
That's great! So pleased you liked it π
mari says
This was great. Made it last night --It was gone b4 I could photograph it. Served it with gnocci.
Thanks!
Natasha says
Wonderful! π
Ashley says
Made this for a family of 3 and it was more than enough food. We served with a zucchini casserole but I think it would also delicious with noodles or rice, especially with the sauce in the recipe. This dish is quick, easy, and delicious. Even my 4 year old approves
Natasha says
I am so glad you all enjoyed it! π
Yolanda says
Hello, are these recipes Health conscious?
Natasha says
Hi, I'm not really sure what you mean. I have hundreds of recipes on here. Some will work for some diets/health issues, and others will not. This particular recipe has cream in it, so it may not be ideal if you're sensitive to dairy. As far as calories go, this one is on the higher end... but I don't personally believe there are good/bad foods. It's ok to sometimes have "treat" meals and sometimes to eat lower calorie meals. Also portion control is important for any food. Just part of the balance of life.
Lindsay says
I made this tonight- just as the recipe said... it was sooooooo good! We ate all the chicken so I saved the extra sauce because I couldnβt bear to throw it away! Now i have to figure out what to do with the sauce!
Natasha says
I am so happy you guys liked it!! The sauce is soo good over mashed potatoes. π
Karen Kerkove says
Through some shrimp in the sauce and serve over noodles.
Judie says
This was as good as I expected. Sun dried tomatoes and cream cinched this for me. Next time I will add a scooch more tomatoes, spinach and basil. Note: I buy the TJ container of basil, snip off the tips of stem and place in water. They last for weeks and sprout roots.
Natasha says
So glad you liked it! Yes, I like to store my basil that way too.. definitely helps extend its life!
Peter says
This recipe looks so delicious and hearty. I can't wait to make this for dinner! The spinach is a great touch too! π
Natasha says
Thanks, Peter!! Really hope you like this recipe. π
Megan says
Just made this tonight. I didn't want to buy a huge container of basil (anyone who shops at Trader Joe's knows what I mean!) but did have an open jar of pesto so I threw some of that in at the end and it was awesome! We served it over pasta and ate the lot. Definitely keeping this recipe and looking forward to making it again!
Natasha says
Haha I don't live in the States, but I know exactly what you mean about the basil - whenever I'm on vacation and pop into Trader Joe's, I see that container of basil. It always looks so good. Wish I could bring some home with me. π I am so glad you liked this recipe, Megan! π
Carolyn says
Looks so delicious!
Natasha says
Thank you!!