This easy one pan Creamy Chicken Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal. Made with chicken, roasted red peppers, and cream cheese, it's loaded with protein and delicious flavor.

A Quick Look

Recipe Name: Creamy Chicken Skillet
Ready In: 40 minutes
Serves: 6 servings
Main Ingredients: chicken breasts, salt, olive oil, yellow onion, garlic, roasted red peppers, chicken stock, cream cheese
Why You'll Love It: This easy one pan Creamy Chicken Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal. Made with chicken, roasted red peppers, and cream cheese, it's loaded with protein and delicious flavor.

An easy one pan creamy chicken skillet

When it comes to preparing dinner, the easier, the better. This recipe keeps things simple and in just one pan! One pan meals are great for weeknights because they keep things easy. Weeknights are already hectic enough, so why add a load of dirty dishes to the mix?

Apart from being easy, this recipe also tastes phenomenal. Between the chicken, spices, vegetables, and cream cheese, it's a nutrient-dense meal that tastes indulgent!

Creamy Chicken Skillet on plate with fork

Ingredients in this creamy chicken skillet recipe

The combination of ingredients in this dish create a Tuscan-inspired flavor. The roasted red peppers bring in a smoky, sweet taste, while the cream cheese adds a slightly sweet tang. Below is everything you'll need to create this dish!

Chicken: This recipe begins with 1 lb of chicken (about 3 large breasts).
Spices: To flavor the chicken, you will need salt, pepper, and oregano. The amounts are up to your discretion.
Olive oil: Next, you will need ¼ cup (4 tbsp) of olive oil, divided. 2 tablespoon will be needed at two different parts of the recipe.
Onion: Time to add some vegetables! Start with ½ of a large yellow onion, diced.
Garlic: Next up, add some flavor by including 4 cloves of minced garlic. If you're using garlic powder instead, you can use 1 teaspoon total.
Red peppers: Follow the garlic with some delicious roasted red peppers. Use 1 cup, diced.
Chicken stock: Thicken up the dish by including 1.5 cups of chicken stock/chicken broth. Any brand or type works, so use your go-to.
Cream cheese: 4 oz (half a brick) of softened cream cheese is going to add delicious flavor and creaminess to the skillet.
Spinach: 3 oz of baby spinach adds nutrients and subtle flavor to the dish.
Parmesan: Last but not least, freshly grated parmesan cheese completes the meal!

Tools used to prepare this recipe

To make this creamy chicken skillet recipe, you'll need around nine kitchen tools in addition to three measuring cup sizes. Below is everything you'll need. I recommend gathering all of the tools before you begin to create a smooth and easy cooking process.

Cutting board
Chopping knife
2 pieces of wax paper
Meat pounder
Sauté pan
Spatula or tongs
Plate
Whisk
Cheese grater
Measuring cups: ¼ cup, ½ cup, 1 cup

Photo of ingredients for Creamy Chicken Skillet with labels.

How to make this spinach chicken skillet recipe

Ready to get started? This recipe comes together easily in under 45 minutes.

Between two pieces of wax paper, pound the chicken breasts down to about 1 inch thick. Season both sides liberally with salt, pepper, and oregano.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken and let cook on each side for 5 minutes. If all the chicken doesn't fit, cook it in batches.

Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a plate.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and add the onion and roasted red pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until the onion has softened, and then add the garlic. Cook for one more minute, add the chicken stock, lower the heat to medium, and gently deglaze the bottom of pan.

Add the softened cream cheese and stir or whisk slowly until no clumps remain. Let it simmer for 5 more minutes and then add the baby spinach. Mix until it is all wilted.

Then, add the chicken back in. Cover the chicken with the sauce, including the peppers, onions, and spinach. Let simmer for another 5 minutes over medium-low heat.

Grate fresh parmesan over all of the chicken. Optionally garnish with fresh parsley or other fresh herbs. Serve with rice or pasta.

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate!

What to serve with this Tuscan chicken recipe

This recipe can be enjoyed with a variety of sides! The chicken should be served over rice or pasta, but for sides, the options are endless. Pair it with a salad, a plate of veggies, some delicious garlic bread, or all of the above! Nice salad options include this Pear and Blue Cheese Walnut Salad or this Greek Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad. Veggie ideas include Garlic Sesame Green Beans or Oven Roasted Honey Carrots!

Recipe Tips

Is it better to pan fry chicken with butter or oil?

You can use either! It really comes down to preference. They taste slightly different, but they both work well in achieving the end result. For this recipe, we're using oil.

How do you keep chicken from drying out in a pan?

The first step is pounding the chicken, which we take care of at the start of the recipe! Then, avoiding overcooking will prevent dryness as well.

Do you cover the skillet when frying chicken?

You can, but this recipe doesn't call for it. Using the skillet's lid can help retain moisture and prevent the chicken from drying out.

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Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

Erin Antoniak