Creamy Baked Chicken Breasts
Creamy Baked Chicken Breasts are the ultimate comfort food, featuring tender chicken nestled in a rich, creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes. It’s an easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for a cozy family dinner or impressing guests.
Servings: 4
Calories: 412kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 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
- 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
- fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a baking dish, combine the olive oil, minced garlic, heavy cream, chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and nestle them into the sauce mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken starts to brown on top and is mostly cooked through (the internal temperature should be around 155°F or 68°C at this point).
- Remove the baking dish from the oven, and quickly scatter the fresh spinach around the chicken. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted, the sauce is bubbly, and the chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- If you desire more browning, broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes at the end, but watch it closely.
- Let the dish rest for a few minutes out of the oven before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Substitution Tip: If you're out of heavy cream, use equal parts of milk and butter as a quick fix.
- Spice Adjustment: Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of red pepper flakes based on your heat preference.
- Storage Advice: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently before serving.
- Freezing Instructions: Freeze the baked dish for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven until heated through.
- Serving Suggestion: Serve with a side of garlic mashed potatoes or over a bed of cooked pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 1051mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2070IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 3mg