Tuscan Chicken
on Oct 26, 2021
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Let me introduce you to a 30 minute skillet dish that rivals restaurant quality. Tuscan Chicken is made with sun dried tomatoes, parmesan, and baby spinach. It tastes so good served over rice or pasta.
Skillet meals have my heart. They are quick to whip up and the clean up is easy. Tuscan chicken is bursting with flavor. The creamy sauce paired with the sun dried tomatoes is simply divine.
Skillet Tuscan Chicken with Pasta
It is easy to get into a rut with cooking the same meals on repeat. However, when I take the time to shake up my menu it is so refreshing. The whole family will be licking their plate with this Tuscan chicken recipe.
You will be able to cook this meal from start to finish in under 30 minutes. That qualifies for a quick meal that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen. Plus, everything is made in one skillet. Can you say dream dinner?
I made this meal with chicken breast but you can swap out your protein with the same great results. It would also taste really great using shrimp or your favorite fish.
How to know when the chicken is done?
This is one of the most popular questions because no one wants to slice into an undercooked chicken breast. You will know when the chicken is done because the juices will run clear. If you want to be positive it is cooked, use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees when properly cooked.
What do I serve Tuscan chicken with?
Tuscan chicken would be delicious served over your favorite pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes. You can add a side of vegetables or make a simple green salad and you are set.
How do I ensure my chicken is tender?
I’ve had my share of tough chicken and it’s the worst. One tip is to have your chicken at room temperature before cooking. If it is still cold, it won’t cook as evenly.
Is freshly grated Parmesan better?
I prefer freshly grated parmesan cheese to the packaged shredded parmesan. The cheese that is already shredded has a coating of preservatives that keeps the cheese from melting and integrating into the sauce well. If you can, always buy the fresh parmesan cheese and then grate it yourself.
More Chicken Dinner Recipes:
- Easy Balsamic Chicken
- The Best Chicken Tacos Ever
- Stove Top Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Chicken Piccata
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
If you’ve tried this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Fettuccini recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken Fettuccini
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, halved horizontally so that you have 6-8 pieces of chicken
- 4 tablespoons reserved sun-dried tomato oil or olive oil, divided
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
- 1 5- ounce jar sun-dried tomato strips in oil, drained (reserve 4 tablespoons of oil for cooking)
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped, for serving, optional
- 1 pound fettuccine
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Stir to combine.
- Season both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning mix you just made.
- In a large skillet or high-sided saute pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil over medium to medium-high heat.
- When the oil is hot, add the chicken. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the side touching the pan has a nice golden color. (Don’t mess with it a lot — just let it sit and sear.) Flip the chicken over once, and let it cook on the second side for another 6 to 8 minutes, or until your chicken registers 165 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer (you may need to work in batches if you pan isn’t large enough).
- While the chicken is cooking, cook the fettuccine according to package directions.
- Remove the chicken from the pan, and set aside.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil you reserved from the jar of dried tomatoes to the pan. Add the garlic and the mustard, and stir to combine. Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Slowly whisk in the cream, scraping up any bits left on the bottom of the pan as you whisk.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. (If it’s really boiling away, reduce the heat a bit.) Simmer, stirring constantly for 1 minute.
- Add the baby spinach, remaining sundried tomatoes, and Parmesan, and stir to combine well.
- Give the sauce a taste, and add salt and pepper to taste (it’ll need some of both).
- Reduce the heat to low, and add the chicken and any juices that have accumulated on the plate back to the cream sauce. Stir to combine, and cook just until the chicken is heated through again.
- Remove from the heat, and serve with the cooked and drained pasta.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil if you choose (it’s delicious, but I don’t always have fresh basil).
Notes
- New to oil packed sun-dried tomatoes? They are so good! Look for them near the pickles and olives (or near the canned vegetables like artichoke hearts OR by pasta sauce). And this recipe uses the whole jar so you won’t have to worry about figuring out what to do with leftovers. If you’d like them in smaller pieces, feel free to give them a good chop before adding to the pan.
- Not a mustard fan? No worries. It just adds a salty, briny element, and you won’t know that it’s mustard. Trust me on this one.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: This chicken and cream sauce is so great on pasta, but you could also serve it over zucchini noodles, roasted cauliflower, or even rice. The sauce and chicken really go well with lots of things.
- Use up the rest of the bag of spinach to make a sweet spinach salad with some green onions, sliced fresh fruit, nuts, and a poppy seed dressing.
- MEAL PREP: Feel free to cut and season the chicken and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days before using, and you can also chop and store the spinach in the fridge to prepare for this recipe.
Nutrition
Tuscan Chicken will be a total home run meal! The flavors are savory and it is a quick skillet meal that tastes amazing. I can’t wait for you to try this.
This came together very easily and had great flavor!