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Tuscan chicken is a dish that is inspired by the flavors and ingredients of Tuscany, a region in central Italy known for its hearty, rustic cuisine. The dish typically consists of chicken that is sautéed or grilled and served with a variety of vegetables, such as tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions, and flavorful seasonings such as garlic, rosemary, and red pepper flakes. Some variations of Tuscan chicken may also include ingredients such as olives, capers, or white wine. It can be served as a main course with pasta, bread or mashed potatoes.
10-15 Cherry Tomatoes
6 oz Spinach
1 Medium Onion
3 Garlic Cloves
1/3 cup Basil
1.5 Cups of Heavy Cream
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
1/2 Cup of White Wine
1/2 Cup of Chicken Broth
1 Jar of Sun Dried Tomatoes
3 Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Cut your boneless skinless chicken breasts in half and beat them with a meat tenderizer on a cutting board. Tenderizing chicken is can make it easier to chew and more enjoyable to eat. It can also help the chicken to cook more evenly, as the tenderized areas will cook faster than the tougher areas. Although we aren’t making an actual marinade for this recipe, tenderizing your chicken can also help absorb marinades more effectively, which can add flavor and moisture to the finished dish. I don’t always beat my meat, but when I’m making a high-quality dish like this, I try and go above and beyond by doing the little things that can make a difference.
To begin adding flavor to the chicken, try coating it with a mixture of olive oil and spices. For this, we will be adding salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders, Italian seasoning, and paprika. This is a must do for executing all easy chicken recipes.
Cut your onion into slices and your tomatoes in half. Chop your basil, and mince your garlic.
While this is considered of the easier chicken breast recipes to execute, you will need to ensure the chicken is cooked perfectly. Pour the oil from the jar of sun dried tomatoes in the pan, along with a little bit of olive oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, place chicken in skillet and for 3-4 minutes on each side.
Once cooked, set aside.
This is my favorite part, buildings the creamy Tuscan sauce. Starting a sauce with onions and garlic can add a lot of flavor to the finished dish. Onions and garlic are aromatic vegetables that contain a variety of flavorful compounds. When they are cooked, these compounds are released and can add depth and complexity to a sauce. Additionally, onions and garlic are often used as a base for many types of sauces and can help to provide a foundation for the other flavors in the sauce to build upon. So, add a teaspoon of butter with your onions and let them cook down for 2-3 minutes. Then, add in your garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Now we begin adding some bright colors to the dish, add both your cherry tomatoes and your sun dried tomatoes to the pan, along with some salt/pepper and the optional red pepper flakes for some heat. Mix thoroughly.
Add the white wine, cook all of the alcohol out on until the liquid is bubbling for roughly 2-3 minutes. Then, add the chicken broth and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Add the basil, which is such a fragrant herb that can add depth and complexity to a sauce. For this cream sauce specifically, don’t even consider substituting this for dried basil. Dried basil, has a more subtle and slightly woody flavor, and is way less aromatic than fresh basil and is nearly as suitable for this entrée.
Now it’s time to make the sauce more of a…creamy sauce. Add the heavy cream, cook on medium high heat until it comes starts to gently bubble, then bring it back down to simmer. Bringing heavy cream to a simmer before reducing the heat to low is an important step in the cooking process that can help to ensure a smooth, creamy finished dish.
Add the parmesan cheese, which when you add graded cheese to a hot sauce, it will melt and release its natural oils, which can help to thicken the sauce and help provide a saltier taste. This makes for a delightful creamy Tuscan chicken sauce they you’ll basically want to drink.
Add the fresh spinach to add even more color to the dish. There is something about wilted spinach that really elevates the dish texturally and visually, but also makes you feel a little bit better about the health benefits. Fresh spinach is packed with vitamins and minerals, making it a bit more healthy and nutritious, and wilting it down just takes it to another level.
Stir the baby spinach around with everything and let the flavors build for another 2 minutes. This is where you should season with some salt and pepper, along with Italian seasoning, continue to taste the sauce to your liking,
Finally, add the chicken to the sauce pan and mix it all around. Make sure all parts of the chicken is covered in sauce.
This tuscan chicken recipe is fairly simple and has become a personal favorite to serve for family. I hope you Enjoy!
Tuscan chicken, also known as pollo alla Toscana, is a dish that is believed to have originated in the region of Tuscany in central Italy. The dish consists of chicken that is cooked with white wine, tomatoes, and vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, and olives. It is typically flavored with herbs, such as basil and rosemary, and may be served over pasta or with a side of roasted potatoes.
The origins of are difficult to trace with certainty, as it is a dish that has evolved over time and has been influenced by a variety of cultural and culinary traditions. However, it is likely that it has its roots in the simple, rustic cooking traditions of Tuscany, which have been shaped by the region’s abundance of fresh ingredients and the influence of Mediterranean and French cuisine.
The first time I saw this recipe, I came across it on Delish, who does an outstanding job with their content. Of course I had to change it up a bit, but the general inspiration came from them their video. Check them out if you haven’t yet.
