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Creamy Baked Tuscan Chicken Breasts: A Flavorful Weeknight Dinner

Baked Tuscan Chicken Breasts
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This cozy and comforting Creamy Baked Tuscan Chicken is a simple yet elegant dish that’s perfect for any occasion. With tender chicken breasts smothered in a rich, creamy sauce loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser. Best of all, it’s a dump-and-bake recipe that takes just 30 minutes from prep to table! Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner or hosting a dinner party, this dish is sure to impress.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained of oil and chopped)
  • 10 oz white mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped

For the Cream Sauce:

  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2–3 tsp garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven:
    Preheat your oven to 425°F.
  2. Prepare the Chicken:
    Place the chicken breasts in a plastic bag or cover with plastic wrap. Use a rolling pin to pound them to an even thickness. This ensures even cooking.
  3. Season and Assemble:
    Place the chicken in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and paprika. Scatter the sliced mushrooms and chopped sun-dried tomatoes around the chicken.
  4. Make the Cream Sauce:
    In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth and cornstarch until smooth. Add the heavy cream, cream cheese, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.
  5. Pour and Bake:
    Pour the cream sauce over the chicken, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Bake in the preheated oven for 17-20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 162-163°F on a meat thermometer.
  6. Add Spinach:
    Remove the dish from the oven and stir in the chopped spinach. Let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the spinach to wilt and the chicken to reach 165°F.
  7. Serve:
    Serve the creamy Tuscan chicken over pasta, rice, or with your favorite side dishes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

  1. Even Thickness: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for juicier, more evenly cooked chicken.
  2. Meat Thermometer: Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 162-163°F before removing it from the oven. It will continue to cook while resting.
  3. Substitutions: Swap chicken breasts for thighs if desired, but increase the cooking time by about 10 minutes.
  4. Make It Lighter: Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipes.gernarb.com/creamy-baked-tuscan-chicken-breasts-a-flavorful-weeknight-dinner/