Description
Creamy Spinach Chicken brings comfort right to your dinner table with minimal fuss and maximum flavor. Tender chicken nestled in a rich, green-flecked sauce makes weeknight cooking feel like a delightful culinary adventure.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Dry the 4 chicken breasts thoroughly with paper towels. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper evenly across both sides.
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into hot skillet. Cook for 6 minutes on first side until deep golden brown, creating a crispy exterior.
- Flip chicken and cook opposite side for 5-7 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer.
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate. Loosely cover with aluminum foil to retain warmth.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Melt 1 tablespoon butter, then add 4 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 45-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour ½ cup chicken broth into skillet, scraping brown bits from bottom to develop deeper sauce flavor.
- Add 1 cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon onion powder. Simmer gently for 3 minutes.
- Sprinkle ½ cup grated parmesan cheese into sauce. Stir continuously until cheese melts completely.
- Fold 2 cups roughly chopped baby spinach into sauce. Cook for 2 minutes until spinach wilts and turns vibrant green.
- Return chicken to skillet, nestling pieces into creamy sauce. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer for 2 minutes to reheat.
- Optional: Garnish with pinch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden sear and crispy exterior.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness, avoiding overcooking which can make the meat tough and dry.
- For a lighter version, swap heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt and reduce the cheese amount.
- Fresh spinach works best, but frozen spinach can be substituted by thawing and thoroughly draining excess moisture before adding to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg