Description
This Chicken Florentine recipe is a quick and delicious one-pan dinner featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy garlic mushroom sauce with fresh spinach and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a tasty weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 (8-oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more if needed)
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced (~2 cups)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Greens
- 6 cups fresh spinach, packed
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with sea salt and black pepper to enhance flavor.
- Brown Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook Mushrooms and Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sliced cremini mushrooms. Cook over medium heat until mushrooms are browned and any liquid they release has evaporated, about 5-7 minutes.
- Make Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Pour in ½ cup chicken broth and ¼ cup dry white wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze and lift browned bits. Let the mixture simmer until reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in 1 cup of heavy cream and continue simmering until the sauce slightly thickens, approximately 3-5 minutes. Then reduce heat to low and stir in ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Wilt Spinach: Add 6 cups of fresh packed spinach to the pan. Cook, stirring gently, until the spinach wilts down, about 2-3 minutes.
- Return Chicken and Finish: Nestle the browned chicken breasts back into the creamy spinach sauce. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until the chicken is heated through and flavors meld.
Notes
- Using cremini mushrooms adds a deep, earthy flavor, but you can substitute with white button mushrooms if preferred.
- Dry white wine enhances the sauce, but if you prefer non-alcoholic, substitute with additional chicken broth and a splash of white grape juice or apple cider vinegar.
- Make sure to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a good sear and browning.
- This dish pairs well with rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
- For a lighter dish, consider using half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though sauce may be slightly less rich.
