Creamy Tuscan Chicken With Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Keto-Friendly)
Creamy Tuscan chicken delivers tender chicken in a rich garlic-Parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach—comfort food made easy.
Ingredients
- 4 small chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs) or 6–8 thin cutlets
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or 1/2 tsp dried oregano + 1/2 tsp dried basil)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (preferably from the sun-dried tomato jar)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
- Fresh basil, sliced, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. If using large breasts, slice horizontally to make cutlets for quicker, even cooking.
- Brown the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and sear 4–5 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
- Build the base: Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Stir in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
- Deglaze: Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the pan. Simmer 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Make it creamy: Stir in heavy cream. Bring to a gentle simmer, then add Parmesan and red pepper flakes. Whisk until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens slightly, 3–4 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt to taste.
- Add greens: Stir in spinach and let it wilt, about 1 minute. If the sauce gets too thick, splash in a bit more broth or cream.
- Return the chicken: Nestle chicken back into the skillet along with any juices. Simmer 2 minutes to warm through. Finish with lemon juice for brightness, if using.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil. Spoon sauce over the chicken and serve hot with your favorite low-carb sides.
