The Best Creamy Chicken Florentine (A 30-Minute Skillet Dinner!)

Hello, my friends, and welcome to a recipe that is the very definition of a fast and fancy weeknight meal. If you are looking for a dish that is elegant enough for a special occasion but easy enough for a busy Tuesday, then you have found your perfect match. This Creamy Chicken Florentine is a true one-skillet wonder that delivers a restaurant-quality experience in just 30 minutes.

Imagine tender, golden-brown chicken cutlets, nestled in the most luscious, velvety Parmesan cream sauce. This incredible sauce is loaded with savory sautéed mushrooms, delicate shallots, and heaps of vibrant, fresh spinach. It’s a rich, satisfying, and incredibly flavorful meal that comes together with stunning simplicity. Served on its own or over a bed of pasta, this is a dish that is guaranteed to impress.

Why You’ll Be Absolutely Obsessed With This Recipe

This is guaranteed to be your new go-to recipe for an impressive dinner. Here’s why it’s so spectacular:

• A True 30-Minute Meal: This entire, stunning dish comes together from start to finish in about 30 minutes, making it the ultimate champion for busy weeknights.
• Incredibly Rich & Luscious Cream Sauce: We build a classic pan sauce with white wine, heavy cream, and Parmesan, creating a velvety, flavorful sauce that is absolutely divine.
• One-Skillet Simplicity: From searing the chicken to building the sauce, everything happens in one skillet. This means all those delicious browned bits from the chicken form the flavor foundation for the sauce, and cleanup is a breeze.
• Looks and Tastes Incredibly Gourmet: The combination of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and vibrant spinach makes for a beautiful and sophisticated dish that looks and tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant.

Gather Your Simple, Elegant Ingredients: What You’ll Need

This impressive skillet dinner comes together with a handful of fresh and flavorful ingredients.

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 4 chicken cutlets (1 to 1 1/2 pounds total)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 medium shallots, chopped
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 ounce finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1/2 cup)
• 12 ounces fresh baby spinach

Crafting Your Chicken Florentine: Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s build this beautiful and easy meal. The magic happens all in one skillet!

1. Dredge and Cook the Chicken: In a shallow bowl, mix together the flour, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper. Lightly coat each chicken cutlet in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dredged chicken in a single layer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes per side, without moving them, until they are a beautiful golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate and tent it with foil to keep warm.

1. Cook the Vegetables: Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the chopped shallots and sauté for about 1 minute until they begin to soften. Add the sliced mushrooms and garlic, and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper. Sauté, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes until the mushrooms are tender and have released their liquid.
2. Build the Pan Sauce: Now for the best part! Pour in the white wine and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the delicious browned bits (the fond) from the bottom of the skillet. Bring the wine to a simmer and let it cook for about 1 minute to reduce slightly.
3. Make it Creamy: Stir in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add the fresh baby spinach to the pan in a few large handfuls, stirring after each addition until all the spinach has wilted into the sauce.

1. Finish the Dish: Stir in the finely grated Parmesan cheese until it is completely melted and the sauce is smooth. Nestle the cooked chicken cutlets back into the skillet with the sauce and let everything simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the chicken to reheat. Give the sauce a final taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately!

Wise Tips for the Best Chicken Florentine

• Use Chicken Cutlets: Thin chicken cutlets cook quickly and evenly, which is key for a 30-minute meal. If you only have regular chicken breasts, you can easily slice them in half horizontally to create your own cutlets.
• Don’t Crowd the Pan: When you’re searing the chicken, cook it in a single layer. If your skillet isn’t big enough, it’s better to work in two batches. This ensures the chicken gets a beautiful golden-brown crust instead of just steaming.
• Scrape Up the Browned Bits! The fond at the bottom of the pan after searing the chicken is pure, concentrated flavor. Deglazing the pan with the white wine and scraping up those bits is the secret to a deeply flavorful sauce.
• Freshly Grate Your Parmesan: For the silkiest, smoothest cream sauce, always buy a block of Parmesan and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starches that can make your sauce gritty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Creamy Chicken Florentine

What should I serve with Chicken Florentine?
It’s fantastic served over a bed of pasta (like linguine or fettuccine), creamy polenta, or mashed potatoes to soak up all that delicious sauce. It’s also great on its own with a side of crusty bread.

What if I don’t want to use wine?
You can substitute the white wine with an equal amount of chicken broth. Add a small squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end to mimic the acidity of the wine.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of cream or milk if the sauce has thickened too much.

Conclusion

This Creamy Chicken Florentine is a true showstopper that proves you don’t need hours in the kitchen to create a meal that is elegant, satisfying, and incredibly delicious. It’s the perfect recipe to have in your back pocket for a date night in or any time you need a little bit of everyday luxury. Enjoy!