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Creamy Tuscan Chicken: Easy Gluten-Free Dinner

Cozy Up With Creamy Tuscan Chicken (Gluten-Free Delight!)

Hey there, friend! Let's talk comfort food. I don't know about you, but some days I need something that feels like a warm hug after a long day. That's where this Creamy Tuscan Chicken comes in. It's seriously one of my go-to's, and not just because I'm gluten-free. It's just that darn good!

There's something magical about the combination of sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a creamy sauce, isn't there? I first made this for a friend who was feeling a bit under the weather, and it was so well-received that it's practically been a weekly fixture ever since. The best part? It's incredibly easy to throw together, and you'd never guess it's naturally gluten-free. Let me show you how!

Ingredients You'll Need:

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained (reserve 1 tbsp of oil), and roughly chopped
  • 1 (10-oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Optional: Red pepper flakes, to taste

Let's Get Cooking: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Prep the Chicken: First up, toss those chicken pieces in a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Give it all a good mix so every piece is seasoned. Set aside for a moment.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: Grab a large skillet (and in my honest opinion a cast iron skillet does wonders for this recipe, giving it and even heat and a beautiful sear!), heat the reserved tablespoon of oil from the sundried tomatoes over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it starts to soften (about 3-4 minutes). Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant – the kitchen should be smelling pretty amazing right about now!
3. Brown the Chicken: Now, add the seasoned chicken pieces to the skillet and sear them until they're lightly browned on all sides. You don't need to cook them all the way through at this point, just a good sear for flavor. Remove the chicken and set aside.
4. Create the Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet, add the sun-dried tomatoes, thawed spinach, heavy cream, and chicken broth. Stir everything together. Bring it to a gentle simmer, and let this cook for about 5 minutes so the flavors meld together like the best buds they are.
5. The Cheese Factor: Now, stir in the parmesan cheese, dried basil, and dried oregano. Stir until all the cheesy goodness is melted and incorporated throughout the sauce. This is where the magic really starts to happen! If you like a little heat, now's the time to add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
6. Return the Chicken: Gently nestle the seared chicken back into the skillet. Make sure the sauce is coating the chicken. Let everything simmer for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. The sauce will also thicken up beautifully in this step.
7. Serve and Enjoy: Ladle generous portions of the creamy Tuscan chicken over your favorite gluten-free pasta or rice. You can top it with extra parmesan and if you are feeling fancy fresh basil. It's so good, you are going to want to lick your plate!

My Top Tips & Tricks

  • Dairy-Free Option: Swap the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk for a delicious dairy-free alternative. The coconut flavor is surprisingly subtle and goes really well. Remember, if you do opt to go dairy-free, read labels!
  • Spinach Substitute: If you don't have spinach, kale works great too! Just make sure to finely chop it.
  • Spice it Up: For a bit of extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes during cooking. Feel free to experiment with a little bit of your favorite hot sauce, too!
  • Make Ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated without much compromise to flavor and texture. It actually tastes even better the next day! Make a whole batch and save yourself some cooking time during the week.
  • Serving Suggestions: This creamy chicken goes incredibly well with gluten-free penne, roasted veggies, or a big green salad. Don't be afraid to play around with it and find your perfect combination! For an extra layer of flavor we really enjoy the fresh lemon juice squeezed over top just before serving.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken (Gluten-Free)

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained (reserve 1 tbsp of oil) and roughly chopped
  • 1 (10-oz) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Optional: Red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Season chicken with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
  2. Sauté onion and garlic in sun-dried tomato oil until fragrant.
  3. Sear chicken until lightly browned and set aside.
  4. Add sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, heavy cream, and chicken broth to skillet, and simmer for 5 mins.
  5. Stir in parmesan cheese, basil, and oregano.
  6. Return chicken to skillet, simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through.
  7. Serve over pasta, rice, or your side of choice.

Product Recommendations (Amazon):

I truly hope you enjoy making and eating this Creamy Tuscan Chicken as much as I do! Happy cooking, and let me know how it turns out!

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