Creating the perfect Creamy Tuscan Chicken starts with selecting the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in building the layers of flavor that make this dish so exceptional. Here’s a detailed list of everything you’ll need to bring this Tuscan delight to life:

• Chicken Breasts: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6-8 ounces each. Opt for breasts that are uniform in size to ensure even cooking. Look for air-chilled chicken if possible, as it tends to be more flavorful and less watery. If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, consider pounding them to an even thickness of about ½ inch. This will not only help them cook faster but also more evenly, preventing dry edges and undercooked centers.
• Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is crucial for its flavor and health benefits. It’s the foundation for sautéing the chicken and building the sauce. If you have a good quality olive oil, its fruity and slightly peppery notes will enhance the overall taste of the dish.
• Butter: 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Butter adds richness and depth of flavor to the sauce. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the saltiness of the dish more precisely. The combination of olive oil and butter creates a lovely base for sautéing and adds a luxurious mouthfeel to the sauce.
• Garlic: 4 cloves of garlic, minced. Freshly minced garlic is essential for that pungent, aromatic base that is characteristic of Tuscan cuisine. Don’t be shy with the garlic! If you love garlic, you can even add an extra clove or two. Mincing the garlic finely ensures it distributes its flavor evenly throughout the sauce without being overpowering in any single bite.
• Sun-dried Tomatoes: ½ cup of sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed, drained and roughly chopped. Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of the Tuscan flavor profile. Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are preferred as they are softer and more flavorful than dry-packed ones. Draining them from the oil is important to prevent the dish from becoming too oily. Roughly chopping them allows for bursts of intense, sweet-tangy tomato flavor in each bite.
• Chicken Broth: 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth. Chicken broth forms the liquid base of the creamy Tuscan sauce. Using low-sodium broth is important to control the overall salt content of the dish, especially as you’ll be adding Parmesan cheese later. A good quality chicken broth will add a savory depth to the sauce.
• Heavy Cream: 1 cup of heavy cream. Heavy cream is what makes this sauce undeniably creamy and decadent. It provides a rich, velvety texture that coats the chicken and vegetables beautifully. For a slightly lighter option, you could use half-and-half, but the sauce will be less thick and rich. For the truly indulgent experience, heavy cream is the way to go.
• Parmesan Cheese: ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is key for its nutty, salty flavor and melting properties. Avoid pre-grated Parmesan as it often contains cellulose and doesn’t melt as smoothly. Use a microplane or a fine grater to get finely grated Parmesan that will melt easily into the sauce, creating a smooth and cheesy texture. Having extra Parmesan on hand for serving allows everyone to add an extra sprinkle of cheesy goodness to their plate.
• Spinach: 5 ounces of fresh spinach, roughly chopped. Fresh spinach adds a vibrant green color, a subtle earthy flavor, and a healthy dose of nutrients to the dish. Roughly chopping it ensures it wilts down nicely into the sauce without becoming stringy. Baby spinach is a great option as it’s tender and cooks quickly.
• Italian Seasoning: 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme, which provides a classic Italian flavor profile. It ties all the other flavors together and adds a layer of herbaceous complexity to the sauce.
• Salt and Black Pepper: To taste. Salt and freshly ground black pepper are essential for seasoning the chicken and the sauce. Season generously at each stage of cooking to build flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed throughout the cooking process. Freshly ground black pepper has a much brighter and more aromatic flavor than pre-ground pepper.
• Optional: Red Pepper Flakes: ¼ teaspoon (or more to taste) of red pepper flakes. If you like a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes adds a subtle kick to balance the richness of the cream and cheese. Start with ¼ teaspoon and add more if you prefer a spicier dish.

This meticulously curated list of ingredients ensures that you have everything you need to create an authentic and delicious Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Each ingredient is chosen for its specific contribution to the final flavor and texture of the dish, resulting in a truly memorable meal.