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.
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.
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.
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.
5. Add fresh spinach.
6. Cook until the spinach wilts, for a couple of minutes, on medium heat.
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.
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.
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 with Spinach, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes (30 Minutes, ONE-PAN)
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
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 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.
Norma Vandermeulen
Hi! this was absolutely delicious! I used trout, and it was great! thanks for sharing! Will definitely make this again!
Julia
Thank you, Norma, for sharing such positive feedback! I bet the sauce was so good with trout!
AprilW
I made this recipe last night. This just popped up on my FB page and OMGoodness I am so thankful that it did. My husband and I absolutely loved it. It was SO EASY TOO!!! I will be making it again and again, I can promise that. I will be going through your Pinterest for sure and making more yummies soon.
Julia
April, your comment made my day! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing such positive feedback! 🙂
Da Cipriano
Hi Julia. this looks so yummy!! I really like your site and posts, the recipes and images are fantastic and inspiring. I will definitely try it. Keep up the good work and stay safe!! Da Cipriano
Kristi
Julia, I have wanted to try this recipe for the longest time. IDK what took me so long, but I finally made it today, and we absolutely LOVED it. It will become part of our rotation! Well done!
Mary
Thanks so much!
Jen
Just finished this meal and it was so good! So simple and so tasty! I’m standing over the pan scooping up all the bits of sauce that didn’t make it into a plate because I just can’t stop!
Lisa
What are garlic flakes can I use something else instead of them or is there a certain brand you get?
Chrissy Cipolla
My hubby made this tonight for us with a side of broccoli & it was delicious ! Our daughter even told him it was restaurant quality ! Will def make again !!!
David Van De Veere
Loved this dish! I changed a few things, I cooked the chicken breast in a sous vide first before browning to keep the chicken moist. I also went heavier on the paprika. I almost think a little pancetta would be nice or lardons. The sauce was so creamy with nice hits of tanginess. I would definitely make this again!
meghan c
Do you have recommendations for modifying the sauce without cream?
Veronica
My family really enjoyed this dish. I will be adding to the family favourites. I would just recommend doubling the sauce. Delicious!
Mary
If I made this a day before for 20 people, how do you suggest heating it up to keep it moist?
Julia
You could heat it up gently on medium-low heat in a large skillet. Add extra half-and-half to thin out the sauce.
Christine Rios
I.made this tonight. Reduced cream by half cup.bit added half cup of chicken broth
Donne
I like this idea!
Christie
My girls loved this recipe, so did the pickyes of them all my husband
Julia
I am glad your family enjoyed this dish!
Julia
Glad you enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Excellent!
I made this last night after I found your recipe for Tuscan salmon.. both dinners were success.. thank you.
Robyn
I made this last night and substituted shrimp for the chicken. It was amazing. I happened to have all the ingredients on hand at the house, it was quick & easy. this was a solo meal for myself, so I took out a few pieces of shrimp, boiled water for pasta, made the sauce, threw in the shrimp, cooked a little while and added some fresh parm/romano cheese. It was awesome, definitely adding to my cook book!
Julia
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful comment! The addition of cheese sounds delicious!