Main Dishes
Chicken Florentine
Description
If juicy meat in a creamy sauce is your dinner love language, this Chicken Florentine recipe is here to win your heart. Tender pan-fried chicken breasts are smothered in spinach and a swoon-worthy garlic wine cream sauce for the perfect date-night-in.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces reduced fat cream cheese Neufchatel
- ¾ cup half-and-half
- 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (½ to 2 pounds)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt plus a few pinches
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper plus a few pinches
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus additional as needed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced, about 4 teaspoons
- ½ cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- 10 to 12 ounces baby spinach
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes optional
- Pinch red pepper flakes optional
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Dice the cream cheese into a few pieces and measure out the half-and-half. Let sit at room temperature while you start the recipe.
- Place each chicken breast on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap to keep things tidy. With a meat mallet, rolling pin, or the base of a skillet, lightly pound to an even thickness (they don't need to be paper thin, you just don't want the middle thicker than the ends so that they cook evenly). Season all over with the ¾ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Place the flour in a shallow bowl (a pie plate works well). With tongs, lightly dredge each piece of chicken on both sides with flour, then transfer to a plate.
- In a large, sturdy overproof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter. Once the butter has melted, carefully lower 2 of the chicken breasts into the skillet (angle the chicken away from you to guard against spatters), ensuring they do not touch. Cook on both sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm. The chicken will not be cooked through. Repeat with remaining chicken.
