Description
This Baked Tuscan Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts baked in a rich and creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, fresh baby spinach, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for an easy yet flavorful weeknight dinner, this dish combines sautéing and baking techniques to create a delicious Italian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), drained and chopped
- 1 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Season and Sear Chicken: Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken for 2–3 minutes per side until golden brown, locking in moisture and flavor.
- Prepare Garlic: Transfer the seared chicken to the baking dish. In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant; this step builds the base flavor for the sauce.
- Cook Vegetables and Make Sauce: Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach to the skillet; cook for about 2 minutes until the spinach wilts. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese, bringing the sauce to a gentle simmer to blend the flavors.
- Combine and Bake: Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish, ensuring they’re well coated with the flavorful sauce.
- Bake to Finish: Bake the chicken for 20–25 minutes at 400°F (200°C) or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C) and the sauce is bubbling. Serve hot with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut cream to lighten the dish or make it dairy-free, but this may alter the richness of the sauce.
- For more intense flavor, consider marinating the chicken breasts in Italian seasoning and olive oil for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Serve with pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
