Here’s a classic Chicken Florentine recipe — creamy, flavorful, and full of spinach, perfect for an elegant weeknight or dinner party.
🍗 Chicken Florentine
🧂 Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups fresh spinach (or 1 package frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning or thyme
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp flour (optional, for thickening)
Optional: cooked pasta or rice for serving
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Chicken
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden (chicken will finish cooking in the sauce). Remove and set aside.
2️⃣ Sauté Vegetables
- In the same skillet, add onion and garlic. Sauté until soft (~3 minutes).
- Add spinach and cook until wilted (or heated through if using frozen).
3️⃣ Make the Creamy Sauce
- Add chicken broth and heavy cream to the skillet.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and Italian seasoning.
- Optional: whisk in 1 tbsp flour to thicken the sauce.
4️⃣ Combine & Simmer
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer 5–8 minutes until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C) and sauce is creamy.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes
- Garnish with extra Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper
- Serve with a side of garlic bread or steamed vegetables
🔥 Tips for the Best Chicken Florentine
- Do not overcook chicken — it stays juicy if you finish it in the sauce.
- Use fresh spinach for the best flavor, but frozen works in a pinch.
- Add a splash of white wine when sautéing onion for extra depth.
- For lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream.
If you want, I can also give a baked version of Chicken Florentine that’s simpler and makes a bigger batch for family-style dinners.
Do you want me to do that?