Description
Creamy Tomato Chicken Skillet is a comforting and flavorful one-pan meal featuring juicy chicken breasts simmered in a luscious creamy tomato sauce. This easy recipe comes together in about 30 minutes with minimal cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Its rich, velvety sauce balances tangy tomato with creamy Parmesan and Italian herbs, appealing to families and home cooks of all skill levels.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2–3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme blend)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear the chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and nearly cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Create the Sauce Base: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, stirring and scraping browned bits from the pan. Let simmer for 5 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Make it Creamy: Reduce heat to low and slowly stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to become silky and rich. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and additional Italian seasoning as desired.
- Finish Cooking the Chicken: Return the chicken to the skillet nestling it into the sauce. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, allowing flavors to meld.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or vegetables.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the pan; sear chicken in batches if needed for even crust formation.
- Use fresh garlic rather than powder for deeper flavor.
- Simmer sauce gently on low heat after adding cream to avoid curdling.
- Let the skillet rest off heat for a few minutes before serving to thicken the sauce.
- Use room temperature chicken for more even cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg