Description
Creamy Chicken Florentine is a comforting and wholesome dinner dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a luscious cream sauce with fresh spinach. This easy-to-make recipe combines rich flavors and nutritious ingredients to create a gourmet experience perfect for any weeknight meal or special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy & Fats
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Seasonings & Extras
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup white wine (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil or butter in a pan over medium heat, then cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the Garlic and Spinach: In the same pan, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the fresh spinach and sauté until wilted, roughly 2-3 minutes, forming a vibrant base for the dish.
- Create the Cream Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and optional white wine, stirring to combine. Let the mixture simmer gently for a few minutes to slightly thicken the sauce. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the pan, nestling it into the creamy spinach sauce. Let it simmer for another 2 minutes to blend the flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Even Cooking: Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness for uniform cooking and juicy results.
- Use Fresh Spinach: Fresh spinach ensures vibrant color and flavor; avoid frozen spinach to prevent excess moisture.
- Don’t Skip the Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan adds depth and creamy texture essential to the sauce.
- Simmer Gently: Keep the sauce on low heat after adding cream to prevent curdling.
- Rest Chicken Briefly: Let cooked chicken rest a few minutes before slicing to preserve juices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg