Description
Elegant Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken featuring perfectly seared chicken breasts in a silky garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan. This Italian-inspired dish tastes restaurant-quality but comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining!
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6–8 ounces each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
½ cup chicken broth, low-sodium
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh basil, torn (or 1 teaspoon dried)
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Juice of ½ lemon
Butter for finishing (optional, 1 tablespoon)
Optional garnishes: fresh basil, Parmesan shavings, lemon zest, cracked pepper
Instructions
1. Pat chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels. Pound to uniform ½-inch thickness if necessary.
2. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Let sit 15 minutes at room temperature.
3. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes until hot but not smoking.
4. Add olive oil and swirl to coat. Carefully place chicken breasts in pan—they should sizzle immediately.
5. Cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until bottom turns golden brown. Do not move chicken during this time.
6. Using tongs, flip gently and sear second side for 4-5 minutes until golden and reaches 165°F internally.
7. Transfer seared chicken to a clean plate and tent loosely with foil to keep warm.
8. In same skillet over medium heat, add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
9. Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
10. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits stuck to bottom with wooden spoon.
11. Add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Dijon mustard, red pepper flakes (if using), and dried herbs (if using).
12. Stir constantly until sauce thickens slightly and reaches gentle simmer, approximately 3-4 minutes.
13. Return seared chicken and accumulated juices to skillet with creamy sauce.
14. Simmer gently 2-3 minutes to allow flavors to marry and chicken to warm through.
15. Stir in fresh basil, fresh thyme (if using), and lemon juice, which brightens all flavors.
16. Taste and adjust seasonings with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice.
17. If desired, whisk in 1 tablespoon butter to add richness and silkiness to sauce.
18. Remove from heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
19. Serve Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken over pasta, rice, polenta, or with crusty bread.
Notes
Pound chicken to uniform thickness for even cooking—no thin or thick spots.
Pat chicken completely dry before searing—moisture prevents proper browning.
Use instant-read thermometer—chicken is done at 165°F internal temperature.
Don’t overcook chicken past 165°F or it becomes dry and tough.
Use high enough heat for proper searing but not so high that exterior burns.
Add cream at medium heat—boiling cream can separate and break the sauce.
Keep sauce at gentle simmer, never rolling boil, to prevent separation.
Fresh basil should be added at end of cooking to preserve fresh flavor and color.
If sauce breaks or separates, remove from heat and whisk in room-temperature broth.
Store leftovers refrigerated in airtight container for up to 3 days.
Never freeze Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken—cream-based sauce doesn’t freeze well.
Reheat gently over low heat, adding splash of broth if sauce thickened.
Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for lighter version.
For dairy-free: use coconut cream or cashew cream instead of heavy cream.
Fresh tomatoes can replace sun-dried tomatoes—dice finely and add at end.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 625mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 48g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: creamy garlic tuscan chicken, italian chicken, tuscan recipe, garlic chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal