Creamy Chicken Florentine with Spinach and Parmesan Recipe
Chicken Florentine is a creamy, flavorful dish featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked in a rich garlic white wine sauce with fresh spinach and a touch of lemon. This skillet-cooked recipe combines Italian seasoning and Parmesan for a comforting meal perfect for any night.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (finely shredded)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups white wine (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup half and half
- 1/3 cup softened cream cheese
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 fresh lemon or 1.5 tablespoons lemon juice (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley (to garnish)
Instructions
- Pound Chicken: Place saran wrap over each chicken breast and use a meat tenderizer to pound it until it’s about 1/2-inch thick and even in thickness. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Prepare Dredge: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Coat each chicken breast evenly in the flour mixture, tapping off any excess.
- Sear Chicken: Melt butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cover the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. If the pan is crowded, cook in two batches. Once cooked, remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Deglaze Skillet: Turn off heat, pour in white wine, then turn heat back to medium. Use a silicone spatula to scrape and deglaze the bottom and sides of the skillet to loosen browned bits for flavor. Let the wine reduce by half, about 6-7 minutes. Add minced garlic during the last minute of reduction.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Temper the half and half by heating it in the microwave for 40 seconds. Slowly add it to the skillet in splashes while stirring to incorporate. Bring gently to a bubble, then reduce heat to low. Stir in softened cream cheese until the sauce is smooth and combined.
- Add Spinach and Lemon: Stir in fresh spinach and cook until wilted and soft. Add lemon juice if desired to brighten the flavors.
- Reheat Chicken: Return the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices back into the skillet. Cover and heat through until the chicken is warmed.
- Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish and serve immediately.
Notes
- Pounding the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness helps them cook evenly and stay tender.
- If you prefer, substitute chicken broth for white wine for a milder flavor.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend for dredging.
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to blend smoothly into the sauce and avoid lumps.
- Fresh spinach is preferred over frozen to maintain vibrant color and texture.
Keywords: Chicken Florentine, creamy chicken, Italian chicken recipe, chicken with spinach, skillet chicken recipe
