Easy Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe

If chicken thighs make a regular appearance on your weekly menu, you'll want to try this easy creamy Tuscan chicken recipe, courtesy of Foodie recipe developer Julianne De Witt. "This delicious and comforting Tuscan chicken dish feels decadent and fancy but is very easy to put together," De Witt shares. The foundation consists of a Parmesan and cream sauce, seasoned with aromatics and sun-dried tomatoes, served with browned chicken thighs and wilted spinach. She compares it with Olive Garden's Tuscan chicken served over fettuccini, adding her own spin to this rendition.

If you want to channel the Olive Garden version, then pair it with pasta. Otherwise, De Witt suggests, "Serve this dish with [a] side of rice or mashed potatoes and French bread to soak up all the delicious sauce." There's plenty of spinach in this dish, but if you want to get an extra dose of vegetables, she says, "I also like to serve a simple sauteed veggie on the side — asparagus or French green beans would be perfect!" Cross your fingers for leftovers, because De Witt notes, "This dish will taste even better the day after cooking as the flavors have a chance to develop." Alternatively, just double the recipe and freeze it for up to three months.

For this recipe, pick up some boneless, skinless chicken thighs. De Witt prefers chicken thighs instead of breasts and notes, "Their natural juiciness and extra flavor work wonderfully in this dish, but chicken breasts are a good choice as well." Next, you'll need sea salt, ground black pepper, avocado oil, dry white wine, small shallots (minced), garlic cloves (minced), heavy cream, finely grated Parmesan cheese, baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes (chopped), and oregano (minced). De Witt explains, "I swap out dried Italian seasoning for fresh minced oregano. It adds a spicy sweetness to the dish."

Season the chicken thighs on both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

Heat the avocado oil over medium-high in a large skillet.

Sear chicken in 2 batches: Place 5 thighs in skillet, skin-side down, and sear until lightly browned then flip and repeat on the other side. Repeat with the remaining thighs and set aside.

Turn heat down to medium. Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping up any bits of chicken. Allow the wine to reduce by half.

Add garlic and shallots to the pan and saute until fragrant.

Stir in cream and Parmesan. mix well and simmer until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened slightly.

Add the spinach, stir, and simmer until wilted.

Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and oregano.

Season with the remaining salt and pepper.

Nestle the chicken thighs into the sauce and simmer until thighs reach an internal temperature of 165 F, approximately 20 minutes.

Serve the chicken, topped with additional Parmesan if desired.

There are more chicken recipes out there than days of the year, and many have overlapping qualities. Case in point, De Witt compares Marry Me chicken with Tuscan chicken, noting, "They are similar in that they are both creamy chicken dishes, but they are not the same. Marry Me chicken is made with a combination of chicken stock and cream, while Tuscan chicken is normally made with only cream." This provides a thicker consistency and richer taste, whereas the stock brings more of an umami character.

"Marry Me chicken also has capers, basil, and usually some chilies for a little heat," De Witt elaborates, describing, "Tuscan chicken sauce is more like the classic (spinach) Florentine sauce." Her Tuscan chicken sauce includes sun-dried tomatoes, which give the dish some of the saltiness the capers add to Marry Me chicken. Ultimately, both recipes consist of chicken in a creamy sauce with salty and herbaceous add-ins, as well as a few distinctions that keep each dish exciting.

This easy creamy Tuscan chicken recipe boasts plenty of goodness in one skillet: creamy sauce, chicken thighs, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes. You don't need much to round out your meal, as this dish packs in plenty of flavor. Instead, complement it with simple starches that can soak up all the creamy Parmesan sauce. For example, De Witt recommends rice pilaf, roasted baby potatoes, mashed garlic potatoes, or garlic bread. Even a simple crusty French bread does the trick here.

On the flip side, given this hearty dish is loaded with rich flavors and a creamy consistency, you might want to counter that with bright flavors or green vegetables. De Witt suggests a fresh Caprese salad, sauteed green beans or asparagus, or roasted Brussels sprouts to pair alongside this Tuscan chicken dish. Or, go hard with the Olive Garden theme and whip up an inspired salad, with leafy greens, tomatoes, olives, onions, and pepperoncini tossed with an Italian dressing.