Description
Tomato Spinach Bacon Chicken brings together your favorite flavors in one simple skillet meal that makes dinner feel like a breeze. Crispy bacon, tender chicken, and fresh greens combine perfectly for a satisfying dinner your whole family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices bacon, diced
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (10 ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Grab two paper towels and thoroughly dry your chicken breasts to ensure perfect searing.
- Mix 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Massage the spice blend thoroughly onto each chicken breast, coating every surface evenly.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and warm 1 tablespoon olive oil until shimmering.
- Carefully lay chicken breasts in the hot skillet, cooking 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer chicken to a plate and loosely cover with aluminum foil to retain heat.
- Drop 4 diced bacon slices into the same skillet over medium heat, cooking 5-8 minutes until crispy and golden.
- Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving behind the flavorful rendered fat.
- Sauté 1 chopped yellow onion in the bacon drippings for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook 1 minute until aromatic.
- Pour in 1 can of undrained diced tomatoes and stir thoroughly.
- Add 1 package of thawed, squeezed-dry frozen spinach and mix well.
- Pour ½ cup chicken broth into the skillet, stirring to combine all ingredients.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper into the sauce.
- Simmer sauce uncovered for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
- Optional: Swirl in ¼ cup heavy cream for extra richness.
- Stir ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until melted.
- Return crispy bacon pieces to the skillet and blend gently.
- Nestle chicken breasts back into the skillet, spooning sauce generously over each piece.
- Allow chicken to warm through in the sauce for 2-3 minutes.
- Plate immediately and garnish with fresh chopped basil leaves and additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Pat chicken breasts completely dry to ensure a perfect golden sear and prevent steaming instead of browning.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken’s internal temperature, guaranteeing perfectly cooked protein without drying out.
- When cooking bacon, drain excess fat for a lighter sauce, but reserve some for rich flavor development.
- For dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk and skip Parmesan, maintaining the sauce’s creamy texture and depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-40 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 523 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg