Creamy Tuscan Chicken swaddled in a sun-dried tomato, Parmesan garlic cream sauce on your table in just over 30 minutes!
This Creamy Tuscan Chicken is one for the recipe binder!ย It looks and tastes gourmet but is quick, easy, pantry friendly and all made in one skillet.ย This Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken is made with lightly dredged chicken cutlets cooked until golden then nestled in a comforting, aromatic, Parmesan cream sauce spiked with sun-dried tomatoes and creamy baby potatoes.ย The sauce is lightened up by using chicken broth and cornstarch along with the heavy cream (or evaporated milk) so you can give into your desires to lick you plate. Serve this Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe with a big green apple salad and breadsticksย and everyone will be singing your praises.
One skillet chicken dinners are a weeknight lifesaver โ you can never have enough. ย Some of our back-pocket favorites include Summer Tuscan Chicken, Lemon Pepper Chicken and Asparagus, Chicken Piccata, Coconut Chicken, Green Chili Chicken and Italian Chicken and Orzo.
Tuscan Chicken Video

PIN THIS RECIPEย TO SAVE FOR LATER

What is Tuscan Garlic Chicken?
This Tuscan chicken recipe is about to become a satisfying, saucy, repeat favorite.ย It transforms boring chicken into juicy, golden chicken dripping with TONS of flavor.ย Plus, youโll love the bonus of creamy potato morsels in every bite.ย Best of all, you only need a few simple ingredients, one skillet and one microwave safe bowl to make this recipe which means it belongs in your weeknight dinner arsenal โ and soon your favorite recipes binder.

Why Youโll Love this Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe:

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Ingredients
This creamy Tuscan chicken is made with simple, pantry staples.ย ย The resulting dish is delightfully flavorful and plain scrumptious!ย You will need: ย


CAN I SUBSTITUTE THE HEAVY CREAM?
The heavy cream + chicken broth + cornstarch elevates this creamy Tuscan chicken to restaurant delicious without all the calories of usingย allย heavy cream.ย ย If youโre trying to save more calories, you can substitute the heavy cream with evaporated milk whisked with 1 teaspoon cornstarch. ย


What Chicken to Use for Chicken Toscana
You can use thicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half to create chicken cutlets. The thin cutlets cook more evenly, are more tender and soak up more flavor than whole chicken breasts. ย You can make your own chicken cutlets by slicing two large chicken breasts through the equator or you can purchase packaged pre-sliced cutlets.
Once you have cutlets, pound them to an even thickens. This quick step:ย 1) tenderizes the chicken as it breaks up the tissues and 2) the uniform thickness allows the chicken to cook evenly all over โ without the thinner bottom becoming overcooked while we wait for the thicker top to cook through.ย

How to make chicken cutlets to use for creamy tuscan chicken
โขTime permitting, freeze your chicken breasts for 15 minutes before slicing.ย This isnโt essential, but it definitely helps create clean cuts because the chicken doesnโt wiggle with every movement of your knife.
โขNext, lay the chicken flat on a cutting board and hold it in place with the palm of your hand. ย
โขNow get out your sharpest knife or sharpen your knife.ย ย A sharp knife helps cleanly cut the chicken instead of tearing/shredding the chicken. โขCarefully slice through the center horizontally (parallel to the cutting board) to create two cutlets.
โขNext, pound the chicken to an even thickness by placing the cutlets next to each other and topping with plastic wrap or I like to place my chicken in a large freezer bags because it seals in all the mess/germs โ but you can use whatever you have on hand.ย
โขGently pound the chicken to an even thickens using the smooth side of a mallet, rolling pin, or side of a can.ย Take care not to over-pound, we are pounding to make the chickenย even,ย not super thin like in Chicken Parm. You donโt need to be too aggressive.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe variations:
This Tuscan chicken recipe can be made more cheesy, spicy, lemony, with different veggies, etc. Here are a few ideas to mix it up:


How to Make Tuscan Chicken
This creamy Tuscan chicken recipe is easy to make with a few easy steps. Here is a step by step guide to make Tuscan Chicken.
Step 1 โ Parboil Potatoes
- Parboiling the potatoes helps the dish come together super quickly and helps them cook evenly.
- Place potatoes and โ cup water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 4-5 minutes (potatoes should barely be fork tender). Drain and pat dry; set aside.
step 2 โ DREDGE THE CHICKEN
- Tuscan chicken is often dredged in plain flour or flour with just salt and pepper but that is a huge missed opportunity for flavor. I love dredging the chicken in a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and paprika.ย It elevates the chicken to stand-alone delicious and then absolutely hypnotic when served in the luscious sauce.
- Before dredging the chicken, make sure to pat it dry so the flour coating sticks.
- After dredging, transfer the chicken to a dry surface. You donโt want to return the chicken to your cutting board because the moisture left behind from the chicken will make the coating wet and rub off.


Why dredge the chicken in flour?ย
Dredging the chicken creates a golden crust that insulates the temperamental chicken breast and keeps it juicy and tender, it also seasons the chicken and best of all absorbs butter from cooking โ YUM!
step 3 โ COOK CHICKEN
- Melt the butter in olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet with deep sides.ย I use a large stainless-steel saucepan.ย
- Heat the butter/oil so its shimmering.ย Donโt add the chicken before the butter/oil is hot or it wonโt crisp up.ย
- Once hot, add chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, depending on thickens, or until cooked through.ย Browning the chicken thatโs coated in spices blooms the spices and unlocks the flavor.
- Transfer to a plate, donโt wipe out the skillet โ those golden bits left behind are flavor gold! ย

Why use butter and olive oil?
To elevate the Chicken Florentine, it gets pan fried in a mixture of butter and olive oil just like I do in myย Chicken Parmesan recipe.ย ย If youโve never added butter to your pan frying, you will never go back!ย The butter adds flavor and the oil prevents the butter from burning.
STEP 4 โ MAKE SAUCE
- Reduce heat to medium and add one tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar. One hot, add sun-dried tomatoes, shallots and sautรฉ until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes; add potatoes, garlic and red pepper flakes and sautรฉ 30 seconds.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream.ย Mix chicken broth with cornstarch; add all of the sauce seasonings.ย
- Bring sauce to a simmer while scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan; simmer until the sauce thickens to desired consistency.


STEP 5 โ ADD PARMESAN
- Once thickened, reduce heat to medium-low and stir in Parmesan cheese.ย Cook, while stirring until melted.
- Add chicken and warm through to soak up the sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.ย ย


HOW DO I THICKEN THE SAUCE?
The sauce will thicken as it simmers; the longer it simmers, the thicker it will become as the heavy cream and broth reduce.ย

HOW DO I THIN THE SAUCE?
I donโt think your sauce will become too thick unless itโs simmered for an exorbitant amount of time.ย Still, it is easy to thin by whisking in some chicken broth.

Creamy Garlic Tuscan Chicken Recipe Tips
Creamy Tuscan chicken recipe is pretty straightforward but here is a summary of helpful tips:


Can I Make Chicken Toscana Ahead of Time?
Yes! ย While this creamy Tuscan chicken doesnโt require much prep, you can still prep everything in advance so your dinner can come together in minutes.
โขPrep chicken.ย ย Create chicken cutlets by slicing chicken breasts in half and pounding to an even thickens. ย Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
โขDredge chicken.ย You can go one step further and dredge the chicken in flour and spices. Transfer the chicken to a parchment lined plateย in a single layerย and tightly cover with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator.
โขChop aromatics.ย Dice the shallots, chop the sun-dried tomatoes, and mince the garlic and store in separate plastic bags in the refrigerator.
โขGrate cheese.ย Grate the fresh Parmesan and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
โขChop potatoes.ย Can be chopped and stored submerged in water in the refrigerator.ย If the potatoes arenโt stored in water, they can oxidize and turn brown.

What to serve with Creamy Tuscan Chicken
This Tuscan Chicken recipe already boasts protein and carbs, so we love serving it with hands-off roasted veggies such as roasted Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or asparagus. ย ย We also love it with a fresh salad like wedge Salad,ย strawberry salad, orย spinach Berry Salad in the spring/summer and apple salad, pear salad or beet salad in the Winter.ย
Lastly, bread is a must to ensure no sauce is left behind.ย You can serve Tuscan chicken with a simple side of crusty bread or weโre obsessed with myย Garlic Bread,ย Dinner Rolls,ย orย Garlic Parmesan Butter Breadsticks.ย

Tuscan Creamy Chicken Storage
โขStorage:ย creamy Tuscan Chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.ย
โขMicrowave:ย chop up chicken so it reheats more evenly then transfer a small portion to a microwave safe dish.ย Heat for one minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30 second intervals.ย
โขStove:ย chop up chicken then transfer to a skillet. Heat over medium heat stirring often.ย
Tuscan Chicken Recipe FAQs
- Can I use chicken thighs? I prefer the taste of chicken breasts in this recipe, but you are welcome to use chicken thighs if you prefer.ย
- Do I have to use chicken fillets?ย Unless your chicken breasts are very small, you will want to use chicken fillets. ย Traditional chicken breasts take much longer to cook so the crust will burn before the inside of the chicken is cooked.ย Also, you donโt get the same tasty crust to chicken ratio with thick chicken breasts.
- What can I substitute for heavy cream? You can swap the heavy cream for evaporated milk mixed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch.ย Just remember that fat equals flavor so the cream sauce wonโt taste quite as decadent.
- Do I have to pound my chicken to equal thickness?ย For the juiciest chicken, it should be pounded to an even thickness. Pounding the chicken ensures the chicken cooks evenly otherwise youโll be waiting for the thick part of the chicken to cook at the peril of the thin part. ย
- Do I have to pound my chicken if itโs even?ย Sometimes chicken fillets even out after cutting.ย The bottom half of the chicken breast is usually more even than the top half.ย Even if it looks even, give it a little pounding to tenderize the protein fibers.ย ย
- Do I have to dredge the chicken in flour?ย Dredging the chicken in flour is highly recommended but not a must.ย The flour creates a crust that insulates the chicken and also carries flavor. If you skip the flour, still coat the chicken in the same seasonings.
- Can I make Tuscan chicken gluten free?ย Yes!ย Simply swap the flour for gluten free flour and youโre all set.
- Can I freeze creamy Tuscan chicken?ย I do not recommend freezing because the creamy sauce can break and become a funny texture.ย If you want to try freezing, use evaporated milk instead of heavy cream and omit the Parmesan and potatoes.

WANT TO TRY THIS RECIPE?
PIN ITย to your recipe BOARD TO SAVE FOR LATER!
FIND ME ON PINTERESTย FOR MORE GREAT RECIPES!ย I AM ALWAYS PINNING :)!
ยฉCarlsbad Cravingsย by CarlsbadCravings.com

Chicken Toscana
Save This Recipe To Your Recipe Box
You can now create an account on our site and save your favorite recipes all in one place!
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 tsp EACH salt, garlic powder, onion powder
- 1/2 tsp EACH paprika pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce & Potatoes
- 1 pound Dutch baby potatoes halved (quartered if large)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes rinsed, drained, chopped
- 1 shallot minced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk + 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp EACH dried parsley, dried basil (or 1 TBS EACH FRESH)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 cup finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Place potatoes and โ cup water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 5-6 minutes (potatoes should barely be fork tender). Drain and pat dry; set aside.
- Slice the chicken breasts in the half through the equator to create 4 fillets. Cover with plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness. Pat dry.
- Whisk the flour and all chicken seasoning together in a shallow dish. Dredge each breast in the mixture, shake off any excess, then transfer to a dry surface.
- Melt the 2 tablespoons butter in 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add chicken and cook for 4-5 (depending on thickness) per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate, don't wipe out skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium and add one tablespoon oil from sun-dried tomatoes jar. Once hot, add sun-dried tomatoes, shallots and potatoes; sautรฉ until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sautรฉ 30 seconds. Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream; mix chicken broth with cornstarch and add to the skillet. Stir in all of the sauce seasonings.
- Bring sauce to a simmer while scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan; simmer until sauce thickens to desired consistency, stirring often.
- Once thickened, reduce heat to medium-low. Push potatoes to the side of the pan and stir in Parmesan cheese. Cook, while stirring until melted, 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I use about ยผ teaspoon each).
- Add chicken and warm through to soak up the sauce. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks:
- Chicken:ย I prefer the taste of chicken breasts in this recipe, but you are welcome to use chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Heavy cream substitute:ย You can swap the heavy cream for evaporated milk mixed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch.ย Just remember that fat equals flavor so the cream sauce wonโt taste quite as decadent.
- Use FINLEY grated Parmesan.ย When shredding the Parmesan, make sure you are using the smallest, prickly holes of the grater so it becomes powder.
- Donโt overcook chicken.ย Chicken, especially chicken breasts, are juiciest when not overcooked. The best and most efficient way to check for doneness is to insert aย meat thermometerย into the chicken; chicken breasts are done when they register 165 degrees.
HOW TO STORE AND REHEATย
- Storage:ย creamy Tuscan Chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three to five days.
- Microwave:ย chop up chicken so it reheats more evenly then transfer a small portion to a microwave safe dish.ย Heat for one minute, stir, then continue to heat at 30 second intervals.
- Stove:ย chop up chicken then transfer to a skillet. Heat over medium heat stirring often.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tag @CarlsbadCravings and Use #CarlsbadCravngs
Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
Carlsbad Cravingsยฉ Original



























Bree says
I am trying to be โgoodโ at logging my nutrition is there any chance you have that information available? I will make and enjoy either way, thanks for the recipe.
Jen says
Hi Bree, happy to help you keep up the good work of logging nutrition. You can determine the nutritional info by going toย http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculatorย and entering the recipe ingredients. Enjoy!
Deanna S. says
This is one of my favorite meals of all time!!!
If my store happens to be out of sun dried tomatoes, I have substituted them with sun dried tomato bruschetta and it has worked out great (and everything is already chopped into small pieces). We use gluten free flour, so sometimes more liquid is required, but we love a thick gravy.
I have tried so many of your recipes and every one of them has been a hit with my family. Thank you for creating awesome recipes that are easy to follow and taste amazing!
Jen says
Wow Deanna! Thank you so much for your glowing review! Iโm so glad this is one of your favorites! Thank you for the helpful tip about sun dried tomato bruschetta. Iโll have to keep my eye out for that so I can try it! That makes my heart happy to hear that you and your family have found my recipes delicious! Thanks again and happy cooking!