Description
A forgiving, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, cream cheese, and spinach. Ready in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (75g)
- 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (115g)
- 2 cups fresh spinach (60g)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt and pepper. If thick, pound to even ½-inch thickness or slice horizontally.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and let it melt and foam.
- Add chicken to the pan. Sear for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic and Italian seasoning to the pan; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add sun-dried tomatoes and heavy cream. Stir to scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Add softened cream cheese. Stir continuously until melted and the sauce is smooth and glossy.
- Stir in fresh spinach until wilted (about 30 seconds).
- Return chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skip searing the chicken for flavor. Ensure cream cheese is softened to prevent clumping. Keep heat at medium or low when adding cream to prevent curdling. If sauce is too thin, simmer longer to reduce. If too thick, add a splash of broth or water. This recipe is naturally gluten-free, but check labels on sun-dried tomatoes and seasoning.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-13 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one-pan dinner, creamy sun-dried tomato chicken, easy weeknight dinner, beginner recipe, chicken breast recipes, 15 minute meals