Creamy One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Thighs

Need a hassle-free weeknight meal sure to excite the whole family? This creamy one-pan Tuscan chicken thighs is just that! Seasoned chicken thighs are pan seared, then onions, garlic, and sundried tomatoes are sautéed and combined with spinach, cream, and parmesan cheese. AE Dairy Heavy Whipping Cream creates the most luxurious, flavorful sauce.

Serve these delicious Tuscan chicken thighs over mashed potatoes or pasta for soak up any extra sauce! I like to accompany this chicken with a simple Kale Salad or Lettuce Salad for a balanced, colorful meal. Check out all of my Side Dish Recipes for more recipe inspiration!

Highlights of this Tuscan Chicken

• Effortless Cleanup: this one-pan dish makes prep and cleanup a breeze while maximizing flavor.
• Rich Cream Sauce: A luscious sauce made with heavy cream, garlic, onion, seasonings, and Parmesan creates a decadent coating for the chicken thighs and sauteed spinach.
• Flavorful Ingredients: salty sun-dried tomatoes, fresh spinach, and Italian herbs combine for a vibrant, aromatic dish that is great over mashed potatoes, pasta, or polenta.
• Juicy Chicken Thighs: boneless, skinless chicken thighs provide moisture and rich flavor, with low effort. Thighs stay more tender and dry out less than chicken breasts.
• Quick and Convenient: ready in just about 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner without sacrificing taste or quality. The sauce can be kept separate to accommodate picky eaters.

Creamy One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Thighs

This dish is so simple but seems so elaborate! Chicken thighs can easily be elevated with the help of the cheesy, garlic cream sauce. Sun dried tomatoes and fresh baby spinach not only add color but a touch of extra flavor and texture. Make this into a pasta or serve over potatoes for a meal the whole family will love.

If you enjoyed this comfort dish classic, try my other Entree Recipes here for more weeknight recipe inspiration! AE’s heavy whipping cream has a fresh, pure taste with a smoother consistency than other creams. Made with cream that is hours fresh from Iowa family farms, this whipping cream is one of the only in the market that is all natural without stabilizers.

Ingredient List & Substitutions

This easy chicken thigh recipe is made with simple ingredients, many you might already have on hand in your fridge or pantry. If there is a substitution for an ingredient, you’ll find it below:

• Extra Virgin Olive oil: olive oil, avocado oil, butter, or vegetable oil can all be substitutes.
• Garlic: add as many fresh garlic cloves as desired, I use upwards of around 4 or 5 cloves. Jarred minced garlic can be a substitute. Use garlic powder in a pinch.
• Onion: red onion, white onion, or yellow onion can work in the recipe, omit onion if you prefer. Shallots are also a good option.
• Chicken: use boneless skinless chicken thighs, boneless skinless chicken breast, chicken tenders, leftover roasted chicken or leftover shredded rotisserie chicken for this recipe. I recommend chicken thighs for their tenderness.
• Sun-dried tomatoes: I prefer the tomatoes packed in oil as they have a softer texture and extra flavor (plus the leftover oil can be used in dressings and marinades). Whole or halved tomatoes can be sliced thin or buy julienned sun-dried tomatoes.
• Baby spinach: this is my go to for the smaller leaves, they cook down nice and small and add the perfect pop of color and flavor. Regular spinach can work, cut it into smaller pieces if desired.
• Parmesan cheese: freshly grated cheese is the way to go here, grab a block of parmesan and use as much as you’d like! Pre-shredded cheese contains an anti caking agent which can give it a weird texture when melted.
• Seasoning: this recipe uses salt, pepper, and an Italian seasoning blend. Add garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or paprika for extra flavor.
• Heavy cream: heavy whipping cream, whole milk, 2% milk, or a non-dairy milk will all work for this cream sauce.

How to Make The Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Let’s talk a little about how to make the Creamy One-Pan Tuscan Chicken Thighs (The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Quick Overview:

• Season chicken thighs and sear in a hot pan with olive oil.
• Sauté garlic and onion, add in sun dried tomatoes and spinach.
• Add in the cream, seasonings, and cheese, stir to combine.
• Add chicken thighs back into the pan and finish cooking.

1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, sear chicken thighs for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
2. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining olive oil to the pan along with the diced onion. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes.

3. Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach, cook down over medium heat until the spinach is just wilted.

4. Add in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese. Bring to a simmer, stirring often, and cook for 3-4 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Add the chicken thighs back into the pan and allow everything to cook over medium-low heat until the chicken is cooked through, 5-6 minutes.

5. Serve over mashed potatoes or pasta and enjoy!

Recipe Serving Suggestions

Serve these Tuscan chicken thighs with a fresh salad, potatoes, pasta, or any of the simple dish dish ideas below for a complete, hearty meal.

• Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
• Potatoes Au Gratin
• Chopped Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad
• Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Tools I Use For The Tuscan Chicken

• Sauté pan: I love this non-stick sauté pan for several things, it is large enough to sauté all the chicken in one batch and nothing sticks to the pan. I also love the high sides to keep messes in the pan and avoid splashing sauce all over while simmering.
• Tongs – A must kitchen utensil, perfect for cooking the chicken thighs. I love these locking tongs for saving space and the different sizes are useful for different recipe needs.

More Comfort Food Recipes

Enjoying this creamy Tuscan chicken, try these other total comfort meals perfect for busy weeknights or Sunday night family dinner:

• Swedish Meatballs – pork and beef meatballs in a creamy beef gravy.
• Mini Chicken Pot Pies – the comfort of a pot pie in an individual serving!
• Italian Pork Roast – a simple crockpot meal perfect for busy nights.
• Tater Tot Casserole with Turkey – ground turkey and vegetables topped with tots!

Storage & Reheating

This Tuscan chicken can easily be stored and stored for meal prep or leftovers. Allow chicken and sauce to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 2-3 days.

To reheat, warm chicken in the microwave or in a small skillet until warmed through. The leftover sauce may get a bit thick, thin with some additional heavy cream to reconstitute.

Recipe FAQs

What does Tuscan chicken taste like?

This creamy Tuscan chicken is an Italian-American inspired dish that has a salty, creamy, rich, and flavorful sauce, with notes of garlic, onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. Fresh spinach gives the dish a fresh flavor and pop of color. Italian seasoning adds notes of thyme and oregano.

Can I use chicken breasts for this recipe?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a great substitute for chicken thighs. I recommend using boneless chicken so it cooks faster and more even. Leave the skin on if desired as these are pan seared first before making the sauce.

What to serve with creamy Tuscan chicken?

This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes or polenta, something to soak up the extra cream sauce! Pasta, crusty bread, roasted vegetables, or a simple lettuce salad are also great sides.

What can I substitute for sun-dried tomatoes?

Not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, fresh cherry tomatoes or canned petite diced tomatoes can be a substitute. If using canned tomatoes make sure to drain them well so the sauce doesn’t get watered down. Not a tomato fan, you can omit the sun-dried tomatoes and add in chopped kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, or capers.

Can I add in other vegetables?

Yes. Roasted broccoli, frozen peas, sauteed zucchini, or roasted cauliflower florets all add extra texture, flavor, and color to this dish. Add the vegetables in addition to the spinach or as a substitute.