Get ready to prepare this simple yet delectable Tuscan chicken dish with pantry-ready ingredients and minimal cooking skills.
Our chefs pan-sear chicken breasts and cherry tomatoes until tender, before combining them with a velvety white sauce. We add fresh spinach near the end of the cooking process to maintain the vegetable’s desired crispiness and bittersweet flavor.
Are you ready to be charmed by these flavors of Italian cuisine?
Is Our Tuscan Chicken Recipe Healthy?
This Tuscan chicken is a must-try for anyone on a diet plan because it is enriched with a generous amount of nutrients to fuel you throughout the day.
Let’s start by viewing the big picture: the nutrition profile of this main course.
Nutritionally, you will gain approximately 47 g of high-quality protein from one serving of Tuscan chicken. Meeting the demand for protein intake may help improve muscle building and reduce late-night snack cravings—perfect for those who are watching their weight. Our chefs carefully portion the meal so that one serving contains only 507 calories, 7.3 g of saturated fat, and around 538 mg of sodium.
As for the ingredients, we paired chicken breast with spinach, cherry tomatoes, milk, Parmesan cheese, and other spices, offering a bulk of proteins, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
Main Ingredients
Here is what you’ll need to pull together an authentic Tuscan chicken:
- Pasta: For the longest time, spaghetti has owned an irreplaceable spot in the hearts of many Italian food lovers. This long-shaped pasta is super easy to find and quite simple to work with—ideal for tossing in the thicker sauces.
- Chicken: When choosing chicken breasts, opt for those with pale yellow skin, pinkish flesh, and a firm texture.
- Cherry tomatoes: Without the presence of cherry tomatoes, this Tuscan chicken will lose its authenticity and taste. The umami flavor of cooked tomatoes helps balance the richness of the sauce and tone down the bitterness of spinach.
- Heavy cream: Italian cooks love the velvety texture and creamy flavor that heavy cream imparts to their dairy-based sauces.
- Whole milk: Whole milk is an indispensable base ingredient for many Italian pasta dishes served with a rich sauce.
- All-purpose flour: It helps thicken the sauce consistency. However, when combining all-purpose flour with other ingredients, whisk vigorously to prevent clumps in your sauce.
- Cheese: The complexity of parmesan cheese speaks to our hearts—rich, sharp, fruity, and nutty.
- Garlic: The intense garlicky flavor of freshly minced garlic enlivens the character of your chicken.
- Paprika: What makes paprika so widely used is its vivid, deep red hue and mild back-of-the-tongue kick.
- Salt and pepper: A sprinkle of these classic seasonings goes a long way—just enough to elevate the savory taste of your Tuscan chicken specialty.
How to Store and Reheat the Leftovers
1. How to Store
“To freeze or not to freeze?”
Though some sources suggest freezing to lengthen the storage time of Tuscan chicken (up to 3 months), we are against this idea. Due to a high amount of dairy content, freezing and thawing will affect the quality of your dish—both in flavor and texture.
Instead, place your leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. It will last from 3 to 4 days.
2. How to Reheat
To reheat, place your Tuscan chicken in a pan on medium heat. Add 1 tbsp of water and simmer for about 3 minutes until hot.
What to Serve With
If you’re open to a full-on Italian dining experience, try pairing your Tuscan chicken with these top-notch side dishes.
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What if I told you the orange sauce you're looking at will be swirled with extra cream? As spicy as it appears, our Tikka Masala chicken recipe is fairly easy to prepare.
How to Make Tuscan Chicken
This 30-minute Tuscan chicken, featuring succulent chicken breast and vegetables, bathed in a luscious cream sauce, is a promising option for any occasion.
- cook TIME 18 mins
- prep TIME 12 mins
- total TIME 30 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE Italian
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 507 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 22 oz skinless boneless chicken breast
- 12 oz cooked pasta (from 6 oz uncooked)
- 4 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 2 oz spinach
- 1 oz shredded parmesan cheese (divided)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil (divided)
- 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 tbsp garlic (minced)
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp parsley (chopped)
INSTRUCTIONS
Prep:
Heat a pot of water and add the pasta. Cook until al dente, according to the package instructions. Rinse the pasta with cold water to prevent overcooking and clumping.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise.
Slice off the root of each garlic clove. Use the side of a knife to press down and crush the cloves, then peel away the skin. Mince the peeled garlic.
Finely chop the parsley.
Cook:
Marinate the chicken breasts: In a large mixing bowl, add 22 oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts, 1/2 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt. Massage the seasonings evenly onto the chicken breasts.
Stir-fry the chicken breasts: Place a large non-stick pan over medium heat, and add half the amount of olive oil (3/4 tbsp) into the pan. Pan-sear each side of the chicken breasts for 2 minutes 30 seconds (5 minutes in total), then lower the heat and leave them to cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Sauté the garlic: Turn back to medium heat. Add the remaining olive oil (3/4 tbsp) and 1 tbsp minced garlic to the pan. Sauté for 30 seconds.
Cook the cherry tomatoes: In the same pan, add 4 oz halved cherry tomatoes. Stir to cook for 2 minutes. Then add 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for another 30 seconds.
Pour in the dairy products: Stir in 1 1/2 cups whole milk, 3 tbsp heavy cream, and 0.5 oz shredded parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Add the stir-fried chicken breasts: Lower the heat, add the stir-fried chicken breasts to the pan, and simmer for 3 minutes.
Add the spinach: Add 2 oz spinach to the pan. Stir to cook on medium heat for 1 minute. Turn off the heat.
Garnish and serve: Transfer your desired portion onto a serving plate. Garnish with the remaining parmesan cheese (0.5 oz) and 2 tbsp parsley and enjoy with spaghetti.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorNatalie Butler, RD, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Martin MathewsThis tuscan chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for a weeknight dinner.