Creamy Chicken Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach

Creamy chicken skillet dinners are designed for maximum flavour with minimal washing up: tender chicken cooked in the same pan as a rich sauce, so the browned bits become part of the dish rather than being left behind. Here, sun-dried tomatoes add savoury sweetness and a little tang, while garlic, chicken stock, double cream and parmesan create a smooth, deeply seasoned sauce that clings to the sliced chicken. Baby spinach is stirred in at the end so it stays fresh-tasting and just wilted. It is the kind of practical, generous dinner that works well with pasta, mashed potatoes or anything that can catch the sauce.
Cuisine style American-style skillet dinner
Cooking style One-pot cooking • Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 1 hour

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.

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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
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  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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Recipe notes

Serving suggestions

This recipe pairs well with:

Pasta Mashed potatoes

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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Creamy Chicken Skillet with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 35min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: American
  • Allergens:
    Milk
Beginner friendly With serving suggestions One pot Kid friendly

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Equipment you'll need

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Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance

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Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

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  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance
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