Description
A rich and creamy one-pot dinner featuring tender chicken breasts and fresh asparagus simmered in a luscious Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this comforting dish combines ease of preparation with balanced nutrition and minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips or cubes
Vegetables
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
- 2–3 cloves garlic, finely minced
Dairy
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for garnish)
Liquids
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (gluten-free if needed)
Fats
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional fresh herbs such as thyme or parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Trim the woody ends off the asparagus and cut into bite-size pieces. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then slice into strips or cubes for faster, even cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown on all sides but not fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside to retain juices.
- Sauté Garlic and Deglaze: In the same pot, add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze, scraping up browned bits from the bottom to incorporate deeper flavor into the sauce.
- Add Cream and Parmesan: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and begins to slightly thicken.
- Combine Chicken and Asparagus: Return chicken pieces and asparagus to the pot. Simmer gently for 5-7 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and asparagus is tender-crisp. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Finish and Garnish: Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs if using, and give a final stir. Serve hot with additional Parmesan cheese as desired.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken to promote even cooking and better searing.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot when searing; cook in batches if necessary to get a nice golden crust.
- Reserve some Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top just before serving for extra flavor.
- Adjust sauce thickness by adding chicken broth if too thick or simmering longer if too thin.
- Cut asparagus uniformly to ensure even cooking and pleasant texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Cooking / Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg