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Weeknight • Chicken

Creamy Chicken and Spinach Skillet

A comforting, one-pan chicken dish simmered in a luscious creamy sauce with fresh spinach, perfect for any night.

Prep
10 min
Cook
20 min
Servings
4
Level
Weeknight
Creamy Chicken and Spinach Skillet

This Creamy Chicken and Spinach Skillet is a dinner dream come true! It's rich, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make in just one pan. Tender chicken in a velvety sauce with vibrant spinach? Yes, please!

Ingredients

Yield: 4 servings

Main

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 small onion, finely chopped (or 2 shallots)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 5 oz fresh spinach
  • Optional: 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Reduce heat to medium. Add chopped onion (or shallots) to the same skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Pour in chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, allowing the liquid to reduce slightly.

  4. Step 4

    Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.

  5. Step 5

    Add fresh spinach to the skillet, stirring until it wilts completely into the sauce, about 2-3 minutes.

  6. Step 6

    Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly in the creamy spinach sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

  7. Step 7

    Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired. Great with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

Tips

  • For an extra layer of flavor, add 1/2 tsp dried Italian seasoning with the garlic.
  • If you don't have heavy cream, half-and-half or even whole milk with a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed in can work in a pinch.
  • Don't overcrowd the skillet when browning the chicken; cook in batches if necessary for a better sear.

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