Description
A comforting and creamy smothered chicken recipe with a rich mushroom sauce, perfect for cozy weeknight dinners. Simple to make yet indulgent and satisfying.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680g)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (45g)
- 8 ounces cremini or white mushrooms, sliced (225g)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (100g)
- 1 cup chicken broth (240ml), low sodium
- 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach
- Optional: ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook without moving for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). Remove chicken and tent with foil to keep warm.
- In the same skillet, melt butter. Add diced onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release moisture and turn golden brown, about 4 minutes.
- Sprinkle flour over mushrooms and stir well to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
- Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking to avoid lumps. Let simmer and thicken for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream, Dijon mustard, and fresh thyme. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce is luscious and coats the back of a spoon. Add a splash of broth or water if sauce is too thick.
- Return chicken breasts to skillet, nestle into sauce, and spoon sauce over top. Cook for 1-2 minutes to reheat and meld flavors.
- If using, toss in fresh spinach and stir until wilted. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Do not skip searing the chicken to lock in juices and develop flavor.’, ‘Cook mushrooms low and slow to develop deep flavor and avoid steaming.’, ‘Make a roux by mixing flour with melted butter before adding broth to prevent lumps.’, ‘Season chicken well before cooking and taste sauce before serving to adjust seasoning.’, ‘Leftover sauce freezes well; thaw and reheat gently with freshly cooked chicken or veggies.’, ‘Optional: Add a splash of dry white wine after sautéing mushrooms for extra depth.’, ‘For dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk and butter with olive oil.’, ‘Use chicken thighs for juicier meat; adjust cooking time accordingly.’, ‘Add fresh spinach, kale, or peas in last minutes for added nutrition and color.’, ‘To lighten sauce, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream but expect thinner texture.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 520
- Sodium: 500
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 45
Keywords: smothered chicken, creamy mushroom sauce, easy chicken dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal