Tuscan Chicken

This Tuscan Chicken recipe features crispy, seasoned chicken breasts in a creamy Parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It’s a classic Italian dish you’ll love eating for dinner, and it’s so simple to make. The creamy sauce is just irresistible!

Why We Love This Tuscan Chicken Recipe

The combination of simple-seasoned chicken with a creamy sauce can’t be beat. You’ll likely have a lot of these ingredients on hand, so your shopping list will be short!

This Tuscan Chicken is a recipe we have served for guests, and also on busy weeknights for the family. It’s versatile and delicious.

Variations on Creamy Tuscan Chicken

If you want to add more vegetables to your Tuscan chicken dish, or just substitute something for the spinach and tomatoes, there are plenty of options. Kale makes a great replacement for the spinach. It’s much heartier and will add more texture compared to the spinach. Artichoke hearts would make a delicious addition. Drain and chop into bite-sized pieces. Mushrooms will have a similar texture to sun-dried tomatoes, so they are a good substitute (though of course, they taste different).

side shot of tuscan chicken in cream sauce with wooden spoon

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Tuscan chicken an airtight container and refrigerate within two hours of cooking. Cooked chicken will be safe in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop for best results. You can mix in some more heavy cream to freshen up the Parmesan sauce.

How to Freeze

Freeze Tuscan chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

The creamy Parmesan sauce makes this perfect for serving along with pasta. Cook up some penne, spaghetti, or your favorite noodle, and top each plate with a chicken breast and plenty of sauce.

You can also serve it with roasted mushrooms or some roasted garlic. Start with a chicken Caesar salad, or a bowl of Zuppa Toscana, and you’ll have a beautiful restaurant-style meal.

Why is it called Tuscan chicken?

This dish is called Tuscan chicken simply because it originated in the Tuscany region of Italy.

How long does it take to cook chicken in a skillet?

Initially, you’ll cook the chicken breasts for about 4-5 minutes on each side (8-10 minutes), and then set it aside. At the end, you’ll cook it a few more minutes directly in the sauce. So expect around 12 minutes total for the chicken, but check the internal temp to make sure it’s cooked through.

Can I make Tuscan chicken in a crockpot?

Yes, just follow the instructions in this Crockpot Tuscan Chicken recipe for more details.

More Creamy Chicken Recipes We Love

5-Star Review

“I make this recipe about once a month and serve it over couscous with a veggie or salad on the side. It’s delicious! My partner and I are both picky and both love it.” -Madeleine

Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Crispy, juicy chicken breasts covered in the creamiest Parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach is so easy to make.

Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings people

Calories 790kcal

Author Becky Hardin

Ingredients

For the Chicken

4 large chicken breasts lightly pounded to even thickness
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese hand shredded or grated
2 tablespoons European Style Butter

For the Sauce

¼ cup European Style Butter
4 garlic cloves minced
8.5 ounces sun-dried tomatoes drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
½ cup parmesan cheese grated or hand shredded
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup baby spinach chopped
Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

Season each side of each pounded chicken breast with Italian Seasoning and salt and pepper.

4 large chicken breasts, Salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Combine flour and grated parmesan in a shallow bowl. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture, coating both sides.

4 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons butter and stir/melt.

2 tablespoons European Style Butter
Cook the chicken (in batches if necessary) for 4-5 minutes per side or until its fully cooked (165F in the center and no longer pink) and browned on both sides. Remove from the skillet and place on a plate. Cover with foil.
Wipe the skillet clean and return the skillet to medium high heat and add the remaining ¼ cup butter. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. The brown bits hold a lot of flavor, so no need to remove.

¼ cup European Style Butter
Add the garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

4 garlic cloves, 8.5 ounces sun-dried tomatoes
Whisk in the flour and allow to thicken for approximately 1 minute.

1 tablespoon flour
Whisk in the heavy cream, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Stir to combine.

½ cup heavy cream, 1 cup low sodium chicken broth, ½ cup parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Add the spinach and reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook until the sauce slightly thickens and the spinach wilts.

1 cup baby spinach
Add the chicken back into the skillet and turn to coat in the sauce. Allow to continue to simmer until the chicken is heated through, 2-3 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley.

Fresh parsley for garnish
Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Cook your chicken in batches if needs be, so you don’t overcrowd your pan.
You can also use chicken thighs. Make sure to check doneness.
You can check the doneness of your chicken by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken – it should read at least 165F.
After cooking the chicken and just before making the sauce, use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. The brown bits hold a lot of flavor, so no need to remove.
Heavy cream will make the thickest richest sauce.
Garnish with fresh parsley.

Storage: Store Tuscan chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

How to Make Tuscan Chicken Step by Step

Season the Chicken: Season each side of 4 large pounded chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.

Dredge the Chicken: Combine 4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture, coating both sides.

Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in 2 tablespoons butter and stir/melt. Cook the chicken (in batches if necessary) for 4-5 minutes per side, or until it is fully cooked (165°F in the center and no longer pink) and browned on both sides. Remove from the skillet and place on a plate. Cover with foil.

Sauté the Tomatoes: Wipe the skillet clean, and return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the remaining ¼ of cup butter. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan as the butter melts. The brown bits hold a lot of flavor, so no need to remove. Add the 4 cloves of minced garlic and 8.5 ounces of drained and rinsed sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour and allow to thicken for approximately 1 minute.

Tuscan chicken being cooked in a pan full of dried tomatoes soaked in oil.

Add the Cream: Whisk in ½ cup of heavy cream, 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth, ½ of Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Stir to combine.

Add the Spinach: Add 1 cup of baby spinach and reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook until the sauce slightly thickens and the spinach wilts.

Simmer the Chicken: Add the chicken back into the skillet and turn to coat in the sauce. Allow to continue to simmer until the chicken is heated through, 2-3 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley.