Creamy Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms

This creamy chicken with spinach and mushrooms is one of those easy skillet dinners that feels restaurant quality but comes together in about 30 minutes. Juicy chicken breasts simmer in a rich garlic cream sauce with baby bella mushrooms and spinach for a comforting meal that is family friendly, naturally low carb, and perfect for busy weeknights. If you love classic Chicken Florentine, this creamy chicken skillet has all of those flavors in a simple one pan dinner.

What This Creamy Chicken Skillet Is Like

This creamy chicken with spinach and mushrooms has juicy pan-seared chicken breasts covered in a rich garlic cream sauce with tender mushrooms and wilted spinach. The sauce is silky and savory without being overly heavy, and the mushrooms soak up all of the flavor from the chicken and garlic as they cook.

It has the same cozy, comforting flavor as classic Chicken Florentine, but with a more modern one pan skillet dinner feel. The creamy sauce is perfect spooned over mashed potatoes, pasta, roasted spaghetti squash, or cauliflower mash depending on how you want to serve it.

Even though it feels like comfort food, it is still packed with protein and naturally low carb, similar to many of my favorite chicken skillet recipes and high protein dinners.

Ingredients You'll Need

• 2 Tablespoons avocado oil - You could also use olive oil or your favorite oil of choice. I would not recommend using butter as it may burn.
• 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Cutlets - you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
• 8 Ounces Sliced Baby Bella mushrooms - or any mushrooms that you prefer. You can also leave them out. Chicken Florentine does not have to have mushrooms!
• ½ Onion, diced - I love to buy diced onion from the freezer section of the grocery store as a shortcut ingredient.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced - another shortcut ingredient I love it minced garlic paste. It comes in a tube and can be found in the seasoning isle.
• 6 Ounces frozen chopped spinach, or fresh spinach, chopped - The weights in ounces will be the same for frozen and fresh.
• ½ Cup chicken Broth - if you want to control the saltiness of your sauce, use a low sodium broth.
• 1 Cup heavy whipping cream
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

How To Make Chicken with Spinach and Mushrooms

Season the chicken cutlets generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Thin chicken cutlets cook quickly and stay juicy, making them perfect for skillet dinners like this.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the avocado oil. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on both sides. Remove the chicken to a plate while you make the creamy mushroom sauce.

Add the mushrooms and onion to the same skillet and cook until softened and lightly browned. Stir in the garlic and spinach and cook just until the spinach wilts down.

Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet for extra flavor. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.

Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer until the chicken is cooked through and the creamy sauce has thickened. Spoon the spinach and mushrooms over the chicken before serving.

Serve this creamy chicken with spinach and mushrooms over mashed cauliflower, pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables depending on your preference.

Tips For The Best Creamy Sauce

Use heavy cream: Heavy cream gives the sauce the best rich and creamy texture without needing flour or cornstarch.

Brown the mushrooms well: Let the mushrooms cook until their moisture evaporates so the sauce stays rich and flavorful instead of watery.

Simmer gently: Keep the sauce at a low simmer so the cream stays smooth and creamy.

Don't skip the garlic: Fresh garlic adds a lot of flavor to the simple cream sauce.

Use the browned bits in the pan: After cooking the chicken, scrape up the flavorful browned bits when adding the broth and cream.

Add the spinach last: Spinach wilts quickly, so stirring it in near the end keeps it from overcooking.

Let the sauce thicken naturally: The sauce will thicken as it simmers with the chicken for a silky texture perfect for spooning over mashed cauliflower or pasta.

Best Mushrooms To Use

Baby bella mushrooms are my favorite for this chicken with spinach and mushrooms because they have a deeper, richer flavor that works perfectly with the creamy sauce. They also hold their texture well while simmering in the skillet.

White button mushrooms work great too and are usually a little more budget friendly. If you want an even richer flavor, you can also use a mix of mushrooms.

No matter which type you use, make sure to cook them long enough for their moisture to evaporate so the sauce stays rich and creamy instead of watery.

Ways To Serve It

This creamy chicken with spinach and mushrooms is versatile because you can easily serve it low carb or pair it with more traditional comfort food sides for the family.

• Mashed cauliflower: One of my favorite lower carb options because the creamy sauce is perfect spooned over cauliflower mash.
• Pasta or egg noodles: A great family-friendly option that turns this into a cozy comfort food dinner similar to classic Chicken Florentine.
• Rice or cauliflower rice: Both work well for soaking up the creamy mushroom sauce depending on your goals.
• Roasted broccoli: A simple vegetable side that pairs perfectly with creamy skillet chicken recipes.
• Roasted spaghetti squash: The creamy sauce and mushrooms taste amazing with spaghetti squash for a lower carb pasta alternative.
• Side salad: A crisp green salad balances the richness of the cream sauce really well.
• Crusty bread: Perfect for soaking up the extra sauce if you are not eating low carb.
• Meal prep bowls: Slice the chicken and serve it over cauliflower rice or roasted vegetables for easy high protein meal prep lunches.

Storing and Meal prep

Store leftover chicken with spinach and mushrooms in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The creamy sauce reheats really well, making this a great option for meal prep lunches or easy leftovers during the week.

To reheat, warm gently in the microwave in 30 second increments or heat in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. Avoid overheating so the chicken stays juicy and the cream sauce stays smooth.

For meal prep, portion the chicken and creamy mushroom sauce into containers with cauliflower rice, roasted broccoli, mashed cauliflower, or regular rice depending on your preference. The flavors actually get even better after sitting overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

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