Looking for a quick and tasty dinner? The Creamy Spinach Chicken Skillet is your answer. This dish combines juicy chicken with rich cream and fresh spinach. It’s savory, simple, and perfect for any night. In just a few steps, you can create a meal that's sure to impress your family. Let’s dive into this easy recipe that will have everyone coming back for seconds!

$- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - 1 cup heavy cream - 1 cup chicken broth - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped - 1 teaspoon onion powder - 1 teaspoon paprika - 1 tablespoon olive oil - ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated - Salt and pepper to taste - Fresh basil leaves for garnish I love using fresh and simple ingredients for this dish. You start with chicken. I prefer boneless and skinless breasts. They cook evenly and stay juicy. Next, you need heavy cream and chicken broth. These give the dish its creamy base. Don’t forget garlic. It adds a nice flavor. Onion powder and paprika bring in warmth and depth. You will also need fresh spinach. It wilts down beautifully in the sauce. For the finishing touch, grab some grated Parmesan cheese. It melts into the sauce and makes it rich. Finally, you can add salt and pepper to taste. Fresh basil leaves make a lovely garnish. They add color and a hint of freshness. This mix of ingredients creates a tasty, comforting meal. {{ingredient_image_1}} First, take your chicken breasts. Pat them dry with a paper towel. This step helps the seasoning stick. Now, season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Make sure to cover every inch. This adds great flavor to the chicken. Next, heat up a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and let it warm up. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side. You want them golden brown and cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic. Sauté it for about 1 minute. You want to smell that garlic! Now, pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add the heavy cream and stir well. Let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes. This helps the sauce thicken a bit. Now, add the chopped spinach to the skillet. Stir it in until it wilts, which takes about 2 minutes. Then, sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until it melts into the sauce. Finally, return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon some sauce over the top. Let it cook for another 2 minutes. This helps all the flavors blend. When you serve, consider garnishing with fresh basil leaves. It makes the dish look great! To cook chicken breasts well, start with even thickness. If they are thick, pound them gently. This helps them cook evenly. Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side. Look for a golden crust and make sure they are cooked through. You can swap heavy cream for half-and-half if you want a lighter sauce. Coconut milk is a great dairy-free option. For a little zing, add lemon juice or zest. If you like a different flavor, try using feta cheese instead of Parmesan. Each choice brings a fresh twist to the recipe. When you sauté garlic, keep the heat medium-low. This prevents burning and gives a rich flavor. Cook minced garlic for just one minute until fragrant. Then add the spinach. Stir it in until it wilts, which should take about two minutes. This keeps the vibrant color and nutrients of the spinach intact. Pro Tips Perfectly Cooked Chicken: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for safe consumption. Fresh Spinach: Always use fresh spinach for the best flavor and texture. If using frozen spinach, make sure to thaw and drain it well. Customize the Creaminess: Adjust the amount of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese according to your desired creaminess level for the sauce. Garnish for Presentation: Enhance the dish’s look and flavor by topping with freshly chopped basil and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan before serving. {{image_2}} You can easily change this dish by adding other veggies. Try bell peppers for sweetness or mushrooms for a rich flavor. You can also add zucchini or cherry tomatoes for a fresh touch. Just sauté them with garlic before adding the cream. This gives you a colorful and tasty meal. If you want to swap the chicken, consider shrimp or tofu. Shrimp cooks fast and adds a light flavor. Tofu gives a nice texture and soaks up the sauce well. Just adjust the cooking time based on the protein you choose. This keeps the dish exciting and caters to different diets. To make this dish dairy-free, use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. It adds a hint of sweetness. Nutritional yeast can replace Parmesan cheese for a cheesy taste. You can also use a dairy-free cream alternative. This way, everyone can enjoy this creamy spinach chicken skillet! To keep your creamy spinach chicken skillet fresh, let it cool first. Then, place it in an airtight container. This helps lock in flavors and moisture. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to enjoy it later, freezing works too. To reheat, you can use the stove or microwave. If using the stove, warm it in a pan over low heat. Stir often to prevent sticking. For the microwave, place in a bowl and cover it. Heat in short bursts, stirring in between. This keeps the meal creamy and delicious. You can freeze the creamy spinach chicken skillet. Portion it into freezer-safe containers. It can last up to three months in the freezer. When ready to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Reheat as mentioned before for the best taste. Yes, you can use frozen spinach. Just thaw and drain it first. Frozen spinach is a great option. It saves time and still tastes good. Add it to the sauce after you sauté the garlic. You can serve this dish with many sides. Here are some great ideas: - Rice: White or brown rice absorbs the creamy sauce well. - Pasta: Any type of pasta pairs nicely with the chicken. - Bread: Crusty bread is perfect for soaking up the sauce. - Salad: A fresh green salad adds a nice crunch. To add spice, try these tips: - Use cayenne pepper: Add a pinch when seasoning the chicken. - Red pepper flakes: Stir some into the sauce for heat. - Hot sauce: Drizzle a bit on top before serving. These options let you control the spice level easily. In this post, I shared how to make a delicious Creamy Spinach Chicken Skillet. We covered the key ingredients, like chicken, cream, and fresh veggies. I guided you through each step from preparing the chicken to serving the dish. I also provided tips for cooking, possible variations, and best ways to store leftovers. Remember, cooking is a fun journey. Don’t hesitate to try new ingredients or flavors. Enjoy every bite!$

Why I Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Rich and Creamy: The combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese creates a decadent sauce that elevates the dish.
Healthy Spinach: Incorporating fresh spinach not only adds vibrant color but also boosts the nutritional value of the meal.
One-Pan Wonder: Cooking everything in one skillet means less cleanup while still delivering on flavor and presentation.

Ingredients

List of Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil leaves for garnish

I love using fresh and simple ingredients for this dish. You start with chicken. I prefer boneless and skinless breasts. They cook evenly and stay juicy. Next, you need heavy cream and chicken broth. These give the dish its creamy base.

Don’t forget garlic. It adds a nice flavor. Onion powder and paprika bring in warmth and depth. You will also need fresh spinach. It wilts down beautifully in the sauce.

For the finishing touch, grab some grated Parmesan cheese. It melts into the sauce and makes it rich. Finally, you can add salt and pepper to taste. Fresh basil leaves make a lovely garnish. They add color and a hint of freshness. This mix of ingredients creates a tasty, comforting meal.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepping the Chicken

First, take your chicken breasts. Pat them dry with a paper towel. This step helps the seasoning stick. Now, season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Make sure to cover every inch. This adds great flavor to the chicken.

Cooking the Chicken

Next, heat up a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and let it warm up. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet. Cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side. You want them golden brown and cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.

Making the Creamy Spinach Sauce

In the same skillet, add the minced garlic. Sauté it for about 1 minute. You want to smell that garlic! Now, pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add the heavy cream and stir well. Let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes. This helps the sauce thicken a bit.

Combining Flavors and Serving

Now, add the chopped spinach to the skillet. Stir it in until it wilts, which takes about 2 minutes. Then, sprinkle in the grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until it melts into the sauce. Finally, return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon some sauce over the top. Let it cook for another 2 minutes. This helps all the flavors blend. When you serve, consider garnishing with fresh basil leaves. It makes the dish look great!

Tips & Tricks

How to Perfectly Cook Chicken Breasts

To cook chicken breasts well, start with even thickness. If they are thick, pound them gently. This helps them cook evenly. Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. Heat olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken for 6-7 minutes on each side. Look for a golden crust and make sure they are cooked through.

Alternative Ingredients for the Sauce

You can swap heavy cream for half-and-half if you want a lighter sauce. Coconut milk is a great dairy-free option. For a little zing, add lemon juice or zest. If you like a different flavor, try using feta cheese instead of Parmesan. Each choice brings a fresh twist to the recipe.

Tips for Sautéing Garlic and Spinach

When you sauté garlic, keep the heat medium-low. This prevents burning and gives a rich flavor. Cook minced garlic for just one minute until fragrant. Then add the spinach. Stir it in until it wilts, which should take about two minutes. This keeps the vibrant color and nutrients of the spinach intact.

Pro Tips

Perfectly Cooked Chicken: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for safe consumption.
Fresh Spinach: Always use fresh spinach for the best flavor and texture. If using frozen spinach, make sure to thaw and drain it well.
Customize the Creaminess: Adjust the amount of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese according to your desired creaminess level for the sauce.
Garnish for Presentation: Enhance the dish’s look and flavor by topping with freshly chopped basil and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan before serving.

Variations

Adding Different Vegetables

You can easily change this dish by adding other veggies. Try bell peppers for sweetness or mushrooms for a rich flavor. You can also add zucchini or cherry tomatoes for a fresh touch. Just sauté them with garlic before adding the cream. This gives you a colorful and tasty meal.

Protein Substitutes

If you want to swap the chicken, consider shrimp or tofu. Shrimp cooks fast and adds a light flavor. Tofu gives a nice texture and soaks up the sauce well. Just adjust the cooking time based on the protein you choose. This keeps the dish exciting and caters to different diets.

Making it Dairy-Free

To make this dish dairy-free, use coconut milk instead of heavy cream. It adds a hint of sweetness. Nutritional yeast can replace Parmesan cheese for a cheesy taste. You can also use a dairy-free cream alternative. This way, everyone can enjoy this creamy spinach chicken skillet!

Storage Info

How to Store Leftovers

To keep your creamy spinach chicken skillet fresh, let it cool first. Then, place it in an airtight container. This helps lock in flavors and moisture. Store it in the fridge for up to three days. If you want to enjoy it later, freezing works too.

Reheating Instructions

To reheat, you can use the stove or microwave. If using the stove, warm it in a pan over low heat. Stir often to prevent sticking. For the microwave, place in a bowl and cover it. Heat in short bursts, stirring in between. This keeps the meal creamy and delicious.

Freezing Options

You can freeze the creamy spinach chicken skillet. Portion it into freezer-safe containers. It can last up to three months in the freezer. When ready to eat, thaw it in the fridge overnight. Reheat as mentioned before for the best taste.

FAQs

Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use frozen spinach. Just thaw and drain it first. Frozen spinach is a great option. It saves time and still tastes good. Add it to the sauce after you sauté the garlic.

What can I serve with Creamy Spinach Chicken Skillet?

You can serve this dish with many sides. Here are some great ideas:

Rice: White or brown rice absorbs the creamy sauce well.
Pasta: Any type of pasta pairs nicely with the chicken.
Bread: Crusty bread is perfect for soaking up the sauce.
Salad: A fresh green salad adds a nice crunch.

How can I make this recipe spicy?

To add spice, try these tips:

Use cayenne pepper: Add a pinch when seasoning the chicken.
Red pepper flakes: Stir some into the sauce for heat.
Hot sauce: Drizzle a bit on top before serving.

These options let you control the spice level easily.

In this post, I shared how to make a delicious Creamy Spinach Chicken Skillet. We covered the key ingredients, like chicken, cream, and fresh veggies. I guided you through each step from preparing the chicken to serving the dish. I also provided tips for cooking, possible variations, and best ways to store leftovers.

Remember, cooking is a fun journey. Don’t hesitate to try new ingredients or flavors. Enjoy every bit