Baked Tuscan Chicken

Richly flavored, deeply comforting, and effortlessly elegant, Baked Tuscan Chicken transports you to a sun-drenched Italian trattoria with every savory bite, creating a dish that is both rustic and refined, perfect for any occasion. This is not just another chicken dinner; it’s an invitation to experience the heart of Tuscan cooking, where simple, fresh ingredients are transformed into a symphony of flavours, the creamy sauce infused with garlic, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes embracing the tender chicken, creating a meal that is both incredibly satisfying and surprisingly easy to master. Imagine the tantalizing aroma of simmering garlic and herbs mingling with the savory scent of baked chicken, the vibrant colours of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes adding visual allure, and the first forkful delivering a perfect harmony of creamy sauce, juicy chicken, and bright Mediterranean notes, promising a dining experience that is both quick to create and utterly delightful to share. This recipe is your culinary shortcut to Italian comfort food, bringing the irresistible taste of Baked Tuscan Chicken to your home, ready to impress with its effortless deliciousness and authentic Tuscan flair.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Amazing for Weekday or Weekend

Savor the refined simplicity of Baked Tuscan Chicken. This dish effortlessly bridges the gap between everyday weeknight meals and special weekend gatherings, proving that elegant and flavourful food can be both achievable and convenient, making it a perfect choice for any occasion where you want to impress without stress. Its sophisticated flavour profile and beautiful presentation belie its easy preparation, making it equally suitable for a casual family dinner or a more formal dinner party. Enjoy a recipe that is both impressive and practical, making it a versatile and reliable option for any dining scenario.

Creamy Dreamy Sauce Bursting with Flavor

Indulge in the luxuriously creamy Tuscan sauce that envelops the chicken in Baked Tuscan Chicken, a sauce that is bursting with flavour from garlic, herbs, Parmesan cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes, creating a rich and deeply satisfying culinary experience that elevates simple chicken to new heights of deliciousness. The creamy sauce is the star of the dish, perfectly complementing the tender chicken and infusing it with vibrant Mediterranean flavours. Savour the flavour explosion in every bite, offering a truly delightful and unforgettable taste sensation.

One-Pan Cooking Minimal Cleanup Maximum Flavor

Appreciate the streamlined efficiency of Baked Tuscan Chicken, a recipe that embraces one-pan cooking, minimizing dishwashing and maximizing flavour development, making it a weeknight hero for busy cooks who value both convenience and deliciousness. Cooking everything in a single pan simplifies the cooking process and allows flavours to meld and intensify beautifully. Enjoy the practicality of a recipe that is both quick to prepare and easy to clean up, making it a perfect choice for busy lifestyles.

Adaptable to Your Favorite Vegetables

Discover the delightful flexibility of Baked Tuscan Chicken, a dish that readily accommodates a variety of vegetables, allowing you to customize it based on your preferences, seasonal availability, and dietary needs, making it a wonderful way to incorporate more vegetables into your meals while enjoying a flavourful and satisfying dish. Feel free to add your favorite vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, or broccoli to the dish, boosting its nutritional value and flavour complexity. Enjoy the freedom to adapt this recipe to your liking, offering a truly versatile and customizable culinary experience.

Comfort Food with a Sophisticated Twist

Relish the comforting familiarity of baked chicken, elevated with a sophisticated Tuscan twist in Baked Tuscan Chicken, a dish that offers the satisfying warmth of classic comfort food while introducing a layer of Italian elegance and flavour complexity, creating a meal that is both familiar and excitingly new. This recipe cleverly blends the comforting appeal of baked chicken with the vibrant flavours of Tuscan cuisine, offering a familiar dish that is subtly elevated and refined. Enjoy the best of both worlds – the comforting taste of classic chicken and the sophisticated flavour of Tuscany, offering a truly satisfying and balanced culinary experience.

Ingredients

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For the Juicy and Tender Chicken Foundation

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6-8 ounces each, or boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a lean and quick-cooking option, perfect for absorbing the Tuscan sauce flavours. Chicken thighs offer a richer flavour and remain more moist during baking. Choose your preferred chicken cut based on taste and dietary preference. Ensure to use halal certified chicken.
• 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is used for searing the chicken, adding flavour and preventing sticking to the skillet. Extra virgin olive oil provides a richer flavour.

For the Luscious and Aromatic Tuscan Sauce

• 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted butter, or olive oil, extra virgin olive oil (for dairy-free option). Butter adds richness and flavour to the sauce, creating a velvety texture. Olive oil provides a dairy-free alternative while still adding flavour and richness. Unsalted butter allows for better control over salt level.
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped yellow onion. Finely chopped yellow onion forms the aromatic base of the sauce, providing sweetness and depth of flavour as it sautés. Finely chopping ensures even cooking and blending into the sauce.
• 4 cloves garlic, minced garlic cloves. Minced garlic is essential for flavour, providing a pungent and aromatic base that infuses the sauce with savory goodness. Freshly minced garlic is crucial for the best flavour. Mince finely to release its aroma and flavour fully.
• 1 cup chicken stock, low sodium chicken stock, or vegetable stock, or water. Chicken stock adds depth of flavour and moisture to the sauce, creating a richer and more complex taste. Vegetable stock or water can be used for vegetarian or lighter options. Low sodium stock is recommended for better control over salt level. Ensure to use halal certified stock.
• 1 cup heavy cream, or plant-based heavy cream alternative, or full-fat coconut milk (refrigerated and cream scooped). Heavy cream provides richness and luxurious texture to the sauce, creating a classic creamy Tuscan sauce. Plant-based heavy cream alternatives or full-fat coconut milk offer dairy-free options. Full-fat canned coconut milk, refrigerated overnight and scooped out the thick cream, is needed for coconut milk substitution.
• ¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and julienned. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes add intense tomato flavour, sweetness, and chewy texture to the sauce, capturing the signature Tuscan flavour profile. Draining and julienning prepares them for the sauce.
• ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, or vegetarian hard cheese alternative. Grated Parmesan cheese adds salty, nutty, and umami-rich flavour to the sauce, enhancing its savory profile and adding a cheesy element. Vegetarian hard cheese alternative can be used for a vegetarian option. Ensure to use halal certified cheese.
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano, dried oregano leaves. Dried oregano adds a classic Italian herb flavour to the sauce, complementing the tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan. Dried oregano provides a convenient and readily available herb flavour.
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme, dried thyme leaves. Dried thyme adds another layer of Italian herb flavour, enhancing the aromatic complexity of the sauce and complementing oregano. Dried thyme provides a complementary herb flavour to oregano.
• ½ teaspoon salt, kosher salt or sea salt. Salt is essential for seasoning the sauce, enhancing all the flavours and preventing a bland taste. Kosher salt or sea salt are preferred for their pure flavour and even seasoning. Adjust to taste.
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground black pepper. Black pepper adds a touch of subtle spice and complexity, complementing the other seasonings and enhancing the overall flavour profile. Freshly ground black pepper is preferred for its more robust flavour.

Optional Additions for Freshness and Color

• 5 ounces fresh spinach, baby spinach, or arugula, roughly chopped (optional). Fresh spinach or arugula adds a boost of nutrients, colour, and mild flavour to the dish, especially when added at the end for a vibrant green touch. Roughly chopping prepares them for wilting into the sauce. Arugula adds a slightly peppery note.
• Fresh basil, chopped fresh basil, for garnish (optional). Chopped fresh basil adds a pop of color and freshness to the finished dish, enhancing its visual appeal and adding a final touch of herbaceous flavour. Fresh basil provides a simple and vibrant garnish.

How to Make Baked Tuscan Chicken ?

Step 1: Sear the Chicken for Flavor and Color

Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels to ensure better searing and browning, removing excess moisture.

Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper on both sides to taste, enhancing their flavour from the start.

Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and heated through. Oven-safe skillet is essential for transferring from stovetop to oven. Cast iron or stainless steel skillet works well.

Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and nicely colored. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and nicely colored, creating a flavorful crust and enhancing visual appeal. Searing does not need to cook chicken through at this stage.

Remove chicken from skillet and set aside on a plate. Remove seared chicken from skillet and set aside on a clean plate while preparing the sauce in the same skillet.

Step 2: Build the Aromatic Tuscan Sauce

Add butter (or olive oil) to the same skillet. Add butter (or olive oil) to the same skillet, using the same skillet to build the sauce and capture the chicken flavour.

Add finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add finely chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Sautéing onion first releases its aroma and sweetness.

Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant and aromatic, releasing its pungent flavour.

Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmering broth deglazes the skillet and incorporates browned bits for flavour.

Stir in heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt (for sauce), and black pepper (for sauce). Stir in heavy cream, sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt (for sauce), and black pepper (for sauce) to create the creamy Tuscan sauce.

Bring sauce to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly thickened and flavours have melded beautifully. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly thickened and flavours have melded and deepened. Simmering thickens sauce slightly and combines flavours.

Stir in fresh spinach (if using) and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute. Stir in fresh spinach (if using) and cook until just wilted and tender, about 1 minute. Spinach wilts quickly in the hot sauce.

Step 3: Bake Chicken in Tuscan Sauce

Nestle seared chicken breasts into the creamy Tuscan sauce in the skillet. Nestle seared chicken breasts into the creamy Tuscan sauce in the skillet, arranging them evenly and ensuring they are mostly submerged in the sauce.

Transfer skillet to the preheated oven. Transfer oven-safe skillet to the preheated oven for baking.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is bubbly and golden around the edges. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and sauce is bubbly and golden around the edges, indicating it is heated through and slightly caramelized. Baking time may vary depending on chicken thickness and oven. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Remove Baked Tuscan Chicken from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Remove Baked Tuscan Chicken from oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving, allowing juices to redistribute and chicken to become more tender.

Garnish with chopped fresh basil, if desired, for a final touch of freshness and aroma. Garnish with chopped fresh basil, if desired, for visual appeal and fresh herbaceous flavour.

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken hot over pasta, polenta, rice, or with crusty bread, spooning generous amounts of the creamy Tuscan sauce over your chosen base. Serve hot over pasta, polenta, rice, or with crusty bread, offering a variety of serving options.

Enjoy each tender, creamy, and Tuscan-inspired bite.

Tips for Variations

Add a Splash of Creaminess Mascarpone or Cream Cheese Swirl

Stir in 2-3 tablespoons mascarpone cheese or cream cheese to the sauce at the end for an even richer and creamier sauce. Mascarpone or cream cheese adds extra richness and a velvety texture to the sauce.

Vegetable Medley – Bell Peppers, Zucchini, Mushrooms Galore

Add 1 cup of sliced bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms to the skillet along with the onions for a heartier and more vegetable-packed dish. Sliced bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms add more vegetables and flavour complexity.

Sun-Dried Tomato Intensity Oil-Packed vs. Dry-Packed

Use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes for a richer, more intense tomato flavour and softer texture, or dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in hot water, for a chewier texture and more concentrated flavour. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are more readily available and offer a softer texture. Dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes require rehydration but offer a more intense flavour.

Fresh Herbs for Brightness

Use fresh oregano and fresh thyme instead of dried herbs, adding them at the end of cooking for a brighter and more vibrant herb flavour. Fresh herbs offer a more intense and aromatic herb flavour compared to dried herbs.

Serving Suggestions

Creamy Polenta Perfection Italian Comfort

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken over creamy polenta for a classic Italian comfort food pairing, the creamy polenta perfectly complementing the rich sauce and tender chicken. Polenta provides a smooth and flavourful base that enhances the Tuscan flavours.

Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes Rustic Side

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken alongside garlic herb roasted potatoes for a hearty and rustic meal, the roasted potatoes offering a flavorful and textural contrast to the creamy chicken. Garlic herb roasted potatoes provide a savory and satisfying side dish.

Zucchini Noodles Light and Healthy Option

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken over zucchini noodles for a lighter and lower-carbohydrate option, offering a healthy and flavourful alternative to pasta. Zucchini noodles provide a low-carb and vegetable-rich base.

Creamy Risotto Indulgent Italian Meal

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken with creamy risotto, such as Parmesan risotto or mushroom risotto, for an indulgent and restaurant-worthy Italian meal. Creamy risotto creates a luxurious and flavourful pairing.

Simple Green Salad Fresh and Light Contrast

Serve Baked Tuscan Chicken with a simple green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette for a fresh and light contrast to the rich and creamy chicken. Green salad provides a refreshing and palate-cleansing side dish.

FAQ

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work beautifully in this recipe and offer a richer flavour and remain more moist during baking compared to chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are a great alternative for those who prefer dark meat.

How do I make this recipe dairy-free?

To make Baked Tuscan Chicken dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk (refrigerated and scoop out the thick cream) and use olive oil instead of butter. Omit Parmesan cheese or use a vegetarian hard cheese alternative. Coconut milk and olive oil provide dairy-free richness.

Can I add wine to Baked Tuscan Chicken?

Yes, you can add dry white wine to Baked Tuscan Chicken for added depth of flavour. Add ½ cup dry white wine to the skillet after sautéing onions and garlic, letting it reduce slightly before adding chicken stock. Ensure to use halal certified wine or non-alcoholic wine.

What are some other vegetables I can add?

Besides spinach, you can add other vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, or kale to Baked Tuscan Chicken. Add vegetables along with onions or spinach, depending on cooking time needed.

How do I reheat leftover Baked Tuscan Chicken?

Reheat leftover Baked Tuscan Chicken gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until heated through. Avoid overheating to prevent sauce from separating. Reheating gently helps maintain sauce texture.

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