Creamy Chicken Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
Why this recipe works
- Savoury depth: Searing the chicken first leaves browned bits in the pan, which enrich the sauce once the stock is added.
- Smooth, rich sauce: Double cream and Parmesan melt into the simmering stock for a glossy sauce that coats the chicken well.
- Weeknight timing: The chicken cooks directly in the sauce, keeping the method efficient and the total time comfortably under an hour.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Sun-dried tomatoes: Choose soft, flavourful sun-dried tomatoes and chop them roughly so their savoury sweetness disperses through the sauce.
- Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than pre-grated cheese and gives the sauce a cleaner, nuttier finish.
- Spinach: Add the baby spinach at the end so it wilts into the sauce without becoming dull or overcooked.
Texture tips
- Keep the sauce gentle: After adding the cream, maintain a gentle simmer rather than a hard boil to keep the sauce smooth.
- Rest in the sauce: Once the chicken is cooked through, let it sit briefly in the sauce off the heat so the meat stays juicy.
- Loosen if needed: If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of chicken stock and warm it through gently.
Make-ahead tips
- For leftovers: Cool the chicken and sauce before refrigerating in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently: Warm in a frying pan over low heat with a splash of chicken stock until piping hot, avoiding boiling so the sauce stays smooth.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry, then season all over with the fine sea salt and black pepper. Peel and finely slice the garlic. Roughly chop the sun-dried tomatoes.
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden, then transfer to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic to the pan. Cook for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant, then stir in the sun-dried tomatoes.
- Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the double cream and simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the parmesan and stir until melted and smooth. Return the chicken (and any resting juices) to the pan and simmer gently for 6 to 8 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Add the baby spinach in handfuls, stirring until just wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning with a little more fine sea salt and black pepper if needed, then serve straight from the pan.
Recipe notes
Serving suggestions
This recipe pairs well with:
Tips
- Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer after adding the double cream so it stays smooth and does not split.
- If the sauce thickens too much, loosen it with a splash of chicken stock and warm through for 1 minute.
- For the juiciest chicken, take the pan off the heat as soon as the chicken is cooked through and let it rest in the sauce for 2 minutes before serving.
Substitutions
- Replace parmesan with grana-padano-cheese for a similar salty, nutty finish.
- Replace double-cream with cooking-cream for a slightly lighter sauce.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 3 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat gently in a frying pan over low heat with a splash of chicken stock until piping hot; avoid boiling to keep the sauce smooth.
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Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 servings
- Total time: 35min (25min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: American
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Allergens:
Milk
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