Low Carb Creamy Tuscan Chicken (Printable Version)
Tender chicken in a rich parmesan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
→ Sauce
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
11 - ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
13 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach
→ Garnish
14 - Fresh basil leaves, chopped
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese
# Preparation Steps:
01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, pressing seasoning into meat to adhere.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in large skillet over medium-high heat until butter foams. Add chicken breasts and sear 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to plate and cover loosely with foil.
03 - Return skillet to medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn. Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook 1 minute.
04 - Pour in chicken broth, using wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan. Let simmer 1 minute to reduce slightly.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in heavy cream, add Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Stir constantly until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly, 2-3 minutes.
06 - Add fresh spinach to sauce, tossing gently with tongs until wilted, about 1 minute.
07 - Return chicken breasts to skillet, spooning sauce generously over each piece. Simmer 3-4 minutes until chicken is heated through. Serve immediately garnished with fresh basil and additional Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
- Its that rare low-carb dinner that feels genuinely luxurious and indulgent
02 -
- Room temperature chicken sears more evenly than cold straight from the fridge
- Overheating the cream sauce can cause it to separate so keep the heat medium-low
03 -
- Pat the sun-dried tomatoes really dry before chopping so they dont make the sauce oily
- Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated for better melting