Description
Creamy Baked Chicken Breasts feature tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts baked in a luscious, garlicky cream sauce enriched with sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, and a touch of spice from red pepper flakes. Finished with fresh spinach wilted in the sauce and garnished with parsley, this comforting dish is perfect for an impressive yet easy family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (low sodium or no sodium added)
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (chopped)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Additional
- 1 cup fresh spinach (chopped)
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken and sauce together.
- Prepare Sauce Mixture: In a baking dish, combine olive oil, minced garlic, heavy cream, chicken broth, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Stir gently to blend all ingredients evenly.
- Season and Add Chicken: Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Nestle the chicken breasts into the prepared sauce mixture in the baking dish, ensuring they are partially submerged in the sauce.
- Initial Bake: Bake the chicken uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the chicken starts to brown on top and reaches an internal temperature of about 155°F (68°C), indicating it is mostly cooked through.
- Add Spinach and Finish Baking: Remove the baking dish from the oven and scatter the fresh chopped spinach evenly around the chicken breasts. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the spinach has wilted, the sauce is bubbly, and the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Optional Broiling: For extra browning, broil the chicken for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end of cooking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and additional red pepper flakes if desired before serving.
Notes
- This dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or to impress guests with minimal effort.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for optimal safety and juiciness.
- Broiling at the end is optional but adds a delicious golden crust to the chicken.
- Use low sodium or no sodium chicken broth to control the salt level in the recipe.
- Fresh spinach adds color, nutrition, and subtle flavor; it can be substituted with kale if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 412 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 182 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
