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    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (30 Minutes, ONE-PAN)

    By Julia | Updated: Feb 05, 2024 | Published: Nov 02, 2019 | 135 Comments

    89.5K shares
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    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.

    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is a quick and easy 30-minute ONE-PAN meal that will become one of your favorite dinners! It's keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and high in protein.

    Creamy Tuscan Chicken

     

    If you love Italian-style recipes, give a try to this pan-seared Tuscan chicken.  What makes it special and different from many other recipes is that the creamy garlic sauce uses a wide array of vegetables: spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes.  Capers add a little tang to the already flavorful sauce.

    In this one-pan recipe, the boneless and skinless chicken breasts are coated with Italian seasoning and then quickly seared before being smothered in a silky garlic Tuscan cream sauce. The cooked chicken has a perfect texture: soft and juicy, without a hint of dryness.

    The recipe takes only 30 minutes. It's a great family-friendly weeknight dinner that incorporates many veggies and tastes like something from a high-end restaurant.  This is a low-carb and gluten-free recipe.

    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Capers in a stainless steel skillet

    This recipe is similar to the Tuscan salmon recipe I posted a while back - it features a similar sauce with the same veggies.  If you love veggies, serve this creamy Tuscan chicken with sautéed spinach or Asiago roasted broccoli (you can also use Parmesan instead of Asiago).

    Tips for searing chicken

    • What type of chicken to use? Use thinly sliced skinless boneless chicken breasts.
    • Pat dry chicken. Make sure the chicken breasts are completely thawed.  Pat dry the chicken with paper towels to get rid of extra moisture.
    • What pan to use. Use a large skillet (stainless steel, cast iron, or non-stick).
    • What temperature? Heat the pan on medium-high heat until hot, and then add olive oil.  Immediately add seasoned chicken breasts.
    • How long to sear? Sear for about 4 minutes on one side on medium-high heat, then turn over to the other side and sear for another 4 minutes.  In this particular recipe, the chicken will continue cooking in the sauce until it's completely cooked through.

    Garlic cream sauce for chicken

    The cream sauce is made with heavy cream, garlic, and veggies.  There is no flour or cheese used.   It's a gluten-free, low-carb sauce.   Chicken breasts are generously coated with the sauce which helps to keep the chicken moist, tender, and flavorful.

    How to make creamy Tuscan chicken

    1. Season chicken on both sides with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and other spices.

    2. Sear the chicken in 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat, about 4 minutes on each side.

    Seared chicken in a skillet

    Sear the chicken in a large skillet

    3. Remove the chicken from the skillet.

    4. To the same, now empty, skillet, add minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped artichokes, capers. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute on medium heat.

    Sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, capers in a skillet

    Sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, capers in a skillet.

    5. Add fresh spinach.

    Spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, capers in a skillet

    Spinach, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, capers in a skillet

    6. Cook until the spinach wilts, for a couple of minutes, on medium heat.

    Wilted spinach with other veggies in a skillet

    Wilted spinach with other veggies in a skillet

    7.  To make the sauce, add 1 cup of heavy cream and paprika to the skillet with sautéed vegetables. Bring to simmer. Simmer for about 1 minute, stirring. Season with salt, if desired. Add more paprika, if you like.

    Cream sauce in a skillet

    The cream sauce in a skillet

    8. Add cooked chicken to the skillet with the cream sauce.

    9. Spoon the sauce over the chicken, and simmer for about 2 minutes (or more), until the chicken is warmed up and completely cooked through. Season with salt, if needed.

    Creamy Tuscan chicken

    Creamy Tuscan chicken

    What to serve with creamy Tuscan chicken

    • Green Veggies.  The garlic cream sauce will work great over roasted green veggies.  I recommend roasting or steaming broccoli, asparagus, or green beans.  You can also serve the chicken over sauteed spinach, kale, or Swiss chard.
    • Pasta.  What can be more perfect than pairing some pasta or ravioli with the delicious Tuscan cream sauce and the chicken?  Use thin pasta, such as angel hair or spaghetti.  You can use many types of store-bought ravioli with this recipe.  You can also make your own homemade ravioli if you like.
    • Spaghetti Squash.  For a healthier side dish, roast spaghetti squash in the oven and then scrape out the spaghetti squash strands with the fork.
    • Zucchini Noodles.  Another healthy alternative is to use zucchini noodles.  You can buy those in the store or make them yourself!

    Other creamy chicken recipes

    Chicken is an excellent source of protein, and when prepared appropriately it makes a great addition to your diet.   Here are some ideas for your next weeknight dinner:

    • Chicken Thighs with Creamy Bacon Mushroom Thyme Sauce
    • Chicken and Bacon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    • Skillet Chicken Thighs with Creamy Tomato Basil Spinach Sauce

    Other Italian-inspired recipes

    Italian recipes are always flavorful and often feature a cream sauce and/or lots of veggies.  That's why they are a great choice for a delicious family dinner!  Below are my favorites:

    • Creamy Tuscan Salmon
    • Italian Ravioli with Spinach, Artichokes, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Capers
    • Linguine with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    Creamy Tuscan Chicken
    4.77 from 221 votes

    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (30 Minutes, ONE-PAN)

    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes is a quick and easy 30-minute ONE-PAN meal that will become one of your favorite dinners! It's keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and high in protein.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories per serving 723 kcal
    Author: Julia

    Ingredients

    Chicken

    • 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless (thin)
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper coarse
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic flakes
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried herbs: thyme, basil, oregano, rosemary)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Garlic Cream Sauce

    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 4 oz sun-dried tomatoes chopped (about ¼ cup)
    • 14 oz artichoke hearts drained and chopped (1 can or about 1 cup)
    • 2 tablespoons capers drained
    • 6 oz spinach fresh
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • salt to taste
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    Instructions 

    How to sear chicken

    • Season the chicken on both sides with salt, paprika, coarse black pepper, garlic flakes, Italian seasoning.  
    • Heat the large skillet on medium-high heat until hot.  Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
    • When the oil is hot, add the chicken. Sear for about 4 minutes on medium-high heat.
    • Reduce heat to medium.  Flip the chicken to the other side. Sear for another 5 minutes on medium heat.
    • Remove the chicken from the skillet.

    How to make garlic cream sauce

    • To the same, now empty, skillet, add minced garlic, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped artichokes, capers. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute on medium heat.
    • Add fresh spinach.  Cook until the spinach wilts, for a couple of minutes, on medium heat.
    • To the skillet with sautéed vegetables, add 1 cup of heavy cream and paprika. Bring to simmer. Simmer for about 1 minute, stirring. Season with salt, if needed. Add more paprika, if you like.

    Assembly

    • Add cooked chicken to the skillet with the cream sauce.
    • Spoon the sauce over the chicken, and simmer for about 2 minutes (or more), until the chicken is warmed up and completely cooked through. 
    • Season with salt, if needed.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Information
    Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (30 Minutes, ONE-PAN)
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    723
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    45
    g
    69
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    106
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    226
    mg
    75
    %
    Sodium
     
    1022
    mg
    44
    %
    Potassium
     
    2113
    mg
    60
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    25
    g
    8
    %
    Fiber
     
    7
    g
    29
    %
    Sugar
     
    12
    g
    13
    %
    Protein
     
    56
    g
    112
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    6304
    IU
    126
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    48
    mg
    58
    %
    Calcium
     
    154
    mg
    15
    %
    Iron
     
    6
    mg
    33
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutrition Disclaimer:

    The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Keyword creamy Tuscan chicken, Tuscan chicken
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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Vivian

      March 24, 2025 at 6:56 pm

      I’ve made this several times and it’s always delicious. I sub almond milk for heavy cream to decrease calories and fat. Tonight added mushrooms. Also subbed a few cherry tomatoes because I didn’t have enough sun dried and it was still excellent. If the chicken breasts are very big/thick, I butterfly them.
      Serve with angel hair pasta. Good enough for company.

      Reply
      • Julia

        March 25, 2025 at 2:04 pm

        Thank you, Vivian, for your feedback about using almond milk instead of heavy cream! 🙂 I love the addition of mushrooms and cherry tomatoes - so delicious!

        Reply
    2. Elizabeth

      March 08, 2025 at 7:23 pm

      This was excellent, I loved it as well as my husband! I will make it again!

      Reply
    3. D Beaz

      December 21, 2024 at 6:01 pm

      Great!

      Reply
    4. KristynL

      May 30, 2024 at 7:10 am

      A fav recipe - can this be made a day ahead to serve for a larger crowd?

      Reply
      • Julia

        June 01, 2024 at 9:02 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it, Kristyn! Because this is a cream-based recipe, I usually do not recommend making it a day ahead. This kind of sauce just doesn't reheat well as it tends to separate into grease pretty much really affecting the flavor (and the presentation!)

        Reply
    5. Page

      May 23, 2024 at 5:20 pm

      Hi Julia! This looks amazing! I’m wondering if I can substitute coconut milk instead of regular milk?

      Reply
      • Julia

        May 27, 2024 at 5:09 pm

        Yes, Page, unsweetened coconut milk would work great here.

        Reply
    6. Karin Henrikson

      April 06, 2024 at 6:25 pm

      This recipe was pretty easy and although we won’t be eating it for a few minutes i can smell all the ingredients and the scent is so heavenly I know we will love the recipe. Thanks for sharing this recipe and others we have tried…all excellent. We also enjoy the weekly dinner menus that you send too us.

      Reply
      • Karin Henrikson

        April 06, 2024 at 7:44 pm

        Tuscan chicken was fabulous. Will definitely do recipe again.

        Reply
        • Julia

          April 07, 2024 at 5:14 pm

          Thank you, Karin, for your review. Glad this recipe is worth repeating. 🙂

          Reply
      • Julia

        April 07, 2024 at 5:19 pm

        Thank you, Karin, for such a thoughtful comment. 🙂 So glad my weekly emails provide dinner inspiration!

        Reply
    7. David LeBeau

      January 29, 2024 at 12:00 am

      I know that I am a few years behind but this recipe looks fantastic! I hope to try this soon, thanks!

      Reply
      • Julia

        January 31, 2024 at 10:50 pm

        David, I hope you do try it and love it! 🙂

        Reply
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    Julia is the author of JuliasAlbum.com (a food blog focused on easy dinner recipes, pasta dishes, salads made with seasonal ingredients). In this photo, Julia is pictured wearing a yellow sweater against an Autumn background.

    Hi, I'm Julia!

    I am a full-time food blogger living in beautiful Colorado. I focus primarily on savory recipes (protein-based & fiber-rich main dishes, pasta, salads) using fresh & seasonal ingredients. A food blogger since 2012, I help home cooks create well-balanced and visually appealing dinners (many of which are 30-minute ONE-PAN meals). Find out more about me and my cooking philosophy. 

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