Creamy Tuscan Chicken Rice Skillet (Printable)

Comforting one-pan meal with tender chicken in creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and fluffy rice.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Rice and Broth

06 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
07 - 2½ cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Vegetables

08 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
09 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
10 - ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
11 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, packed

→ Sauce

12 - 1 cup heavy cream
13 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh basil leaves, torn
16 - Additional Parmesan cheese for serving

# Directions:

01 - Season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, ensuring even coverage on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, melt butter. Sauté chopped onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and rice. Cook for 1 minute to lightly toast the rice and enhance its flavor.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover with a lid, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes until rice is tender and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Return cooked chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce reaches desired thickness.
07 - Add baby spinach and cook until completely wilted, approximately 1 minute. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Transfer to serving dishes and garnish with fresh torn basil and extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner instead of washing dishes.
  • The creamy Tuscan sauce tastes restaurant-quality but comes together faster than you'd believe possible.
  • You can have it on the table in 45 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when hunger kicks in hard.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of letting the chicken sear without moving it—constantly stirring prevents browning and makes the final dish taste steamed instead of rich.
  • If your sauce seems too thick after adding the cream, thin it with a splash of the reserved broth or even pasta water, but go slow because it will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
  • The spinach will release water as it wilts, which is why you add it last—if you add it earlier, it makes everything watery and dilutes your beautiful sauce.
03 -
  • Cut your chicken into roughly equal-sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate and you don't end up with some pieces dry while others are still pink.
  • Keep your broth warm or at room temperature before adding it—cold broth can shock the skillet and make the rice cook unevenly.
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