Baked Tuscan Chicken

Featured in Delicious Main Course Recipes for Every Occasion.

This Baked Tuscan Chicken transforms simple chicken breasts into an impressive, restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort. The dish features tender chicken topped with a rich, creamy sauce loaded with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian seasonings. What makes this recipe special is its perfect balance of flavors and textures - the tanginess of the sun-dried tomatoes, the richness of the three-cheese blend, and the freshness of the spinach create a memorable combination. While feeling indulgent, it remains low-carb and high-protein, fitting into many dietary plans. The one-dish preparation keeps cleanup simple, making this elegant meal surprisingly weeknight-friendly, ready in under an hour from start to finish.
Home Delicious Recipes
Updated on Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:21:49 GMT
Baked Tuscan Chicken Pin it
Baked Tuscan Chicken | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Transform your dinner routine with this Baked Tuscan Chicken that brings together tender chicken, rich cheeses, and Mediterranean flavors in one impressive dish. This restaurant-quality recipe creates a creamy, satisfying meal that's deceptively simple to prepare while delivering impressive nutritional benefits.

After exploring countless chicken recipes, I discovered that layering flavors and creating a rich sauce transforms ordinary chicken breasts into something extraordinary. The moment you cut into this dish, revealing the creamy sauce and tender chicken, you'll know it's special.

Essential Components

  • Chicken Preparation: Slicing horizontally creates thinner cutlets that cook evenly
  • Cheese Blend: The combination of cream cheese, Parmesan, and mozzarella creates perfect texture
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Quality: Oil-packed tomatoes provide more flavor than dry-packed varieties
  • Seasoning Balance: The mixture of Italian herbs and smoky paprika builds complex flavor
  • Spinach Addition: Fresh spinach adds color, nutrition, and subtle texture
Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe Pin it
Easy Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Creating Your Masterpiece

Perfect The Chicken:
Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create even thickness for consistent cooking and maximum surface area for seasonings.
Master The Base:
Season chicken with garlic, salt, and pepper, rubbing thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
Build The Sauce:
Combine cream cheese, heavy cream, and seasonings into a smooth mixture that becomes the luxurious sauce.
Create The Layers:
Spread cheese mixture over chicken, distributing sun-dried tomatoes evenly for balanced flavor in every bite.
Complete The Dish:
Top with final layer of mozzarella and bake covered, then uncovered to achieve perfect texture and golden top.

This chicken dish has become my signature recipe for both weeknight dinners and entertaining, where its impressive presentation belies the simple preparation. The balance of rich flavors and nutritional benefits makes it a versatile addition to any menu.

Perfect Pairings

Complete your meal with thoughtful sides. Serve with roasted asparagus or broccoli for a complete low-carb meal. Add cauliflower rice to soak up the delicious sauce. For those not following a low-carb diet, crusty Italian bread or al dente pasta makes an excellent accompaniment.

Creative Variations

Adapt this versatile recipe to suit different tastes and needs. Try a seafood version using cod, halibut, or shrimp. Create a vegetarian adaptation with portobello mushrooms or eggplant slices as the base. Make it spicier with the addition of crushed red pepper or diced jalapeños. For extra vegetables, incorporate artichoke hearts or roasted red peppers.

Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe Pin it
Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe | homedeliciousrecipes.com

Storage Success

This dish keeps beautifully for several days. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For best results when reheating, warm in a 350°F oven covered with foil until heated through. To freeze, portion into individual servings and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Through countless iterations of this recipe, I've found that attention to detail in preparation and ingredient quality creates the most successful results. This dish proves that a nutritious, protein-rich meal can also deliver the comfort and satisfaction we crave from classic Italian cuisine.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well. They may need slightly longer cooking time, about 5-7 minutes more.
→ How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?
The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). The chicken should be white throughout with no pink and the juices should run clear.
→ Can I make this dairy-free?
While challenging to replicate exactly, you can try dairy-free cream cheese, coconut cream, and dairy-free cheese alternatives.
→ What can I serve with this dish?
For low-carb options, try zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or a simple green salad. For regular options, pasta, rice, or crusty bread work well.
→ Can I prepare this ahead of time?
You can assemble the dish up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking. Add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if cooking from cold.

Baked Tuscan Chicken

A flavorful, low-carb Italian chicken dish featuring tender chicken breasts baked in a creamy sauce with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and Italian herbs.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
35 Minutes
Total Time
50 Minutes

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Italian

Yield: 4 Servings (4 chicken breasts)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

→ Main Ingredients

01 2 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
02 4 cloves garlic minced, divided
03 1/3 cup cream cheese softened
04 1/3 cup heavy cream
05 1 cup spinach chopped
06 1/4 tsp salt
07 1/4 tsp black pepper
08 1 tsp Italian seasoning
09 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
10 1/2 tsp onion powder
11 1/4 tsp chili powder
12 1/3 cup parmesan cheese grated
13 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
14 8 oz jar sun-dried tomatoes drained and chopped, reserve 1 tbsp of oil from the jar

→ Topping

15 Fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

Step 01

Preheat the oven to 400F and prepare a 9x13 casserole dish.

Step 02

Slice the chicken breasts horizontally lengthwise to create thinner breasts. Place them on the casserole dish. Season them with salt, black pepper and rub 2 minced garlic cloves into them.

Step 03

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, heavy cream and spinach. Add in the remaining 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder and chili powder. Combine well.

Step 04

Add parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of grated mozzarella cheese into the bowl and stir well to combine.

Step 05

Spread the mixture over the chicken breasts to completely cover them. Then cover with chopped sun-dried tomatoes and drizzle with 1 tbsp of oil from the jar. Top up with the remaining 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Step 06

Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and let it bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the chicken has fully cooked.

Step 07

Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

Tools You'll Need

  • 9x13 casserole dish
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Aluminum foil

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy (cream cheese, heavy cream, parmesan, mozzarella)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 471
  • Total Fat: 32 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 17 g
  • Protein: 32 g