Luscious Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce Recipe: A Fresh Delight

Creamy, aromatic basil cream sauce creates a symphony of flavors that dance across tender chicken breasts.

This restaurant-style dish brings elegant Italian-inspired cooking directly to your kitchen.

Silky sauce coats each perfectly seared chicken piece with rich, herbaceous notes.

Fresh basil leaves add a bright, verdant touch to the luxurious cream base.

The combination of simple ingredients produces an impressive meal that looks like you spent hours preparing.

Weeknight dinners transform into gourmet experiences with this straightforward yet sophisticated recipe.

You’ll savor every delectable bite of this comforting, restaurant-quality chicken dish.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 600 kcal

Servings: 3

Ingredients Required For Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce

• Chicken Breasts: Tender protein that forms the heart of the dish, choose fresh, uniform-sized breasts for even cooking.
• Olive Oil, Butter: Creates golden-brown exterior and prevents sticking, use high-quality options for richer flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides crispy exterior and helps thicken sauce, select unbleached flour for best texture.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Adds depth and aromatic warmth, choose freshly ground spices for maximum flavor.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhances overall seasoning, use freshly cracked black pepper for vibrant taste.

• Butter: Creates smooth, rich base for sauce, select unsalted to control salt levels.
• Garlic: Provides intense, aromatic foundation, choose fresh cloves for maximum punch.
• Chicken Broth: Builds depth and complexity, opt for low-sodium versions to manage salt content.
• Heavy Cream: Delivers luxurious, silky texture, select high-fat content cream for best results.
• Parmesan Cheese: Contributes sharp, nutty undertones, choose freshly grated for optimal melting.
• Fresh Basil, Dried Basil: Introduces herbaceous brightness, use combination for layered flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds subtle heat and complexity, adjust according to spice preference.

Tools To Make Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce Simple

• Large Skillet: Essential for cooking chicken and creating the creamy sauce.
• Shallow Dish: Perfect for dredging chicken in flour mixture.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately measure seasonings and spices.
• Chef's Knife: Needed for mincing garlic and chopping fresh basil.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring sauce and scraping skillet.
• Meat Thermometer: Ensures chicken is cooked to safe internal temperature.
• Cutting Board: Provides surface for preparing ingredients.

Easy Instructions For Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce

• Flour Magic

Grab flour and favorite seasonings. Create a cozy coating for chicken by mixing dry ingredients in a shallow dish. Give each chicken piece a delightful dance through the seasoned flour, gently shaking off extra powder.

• Sizzle Time

Heat a skillet with a splash of oil. Gently place chicken into the hot pan, letting each side turn golden and crispy. Cook until chicken reaches a perfect inner warmth, ensuring it’s fully done and juicy.

• Creamy Dream

Lower the heat and welcome minced garlic into the same skillet. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up those delicious browned bits. Splash heavy cream and let everything mingle and bubble softly.

• Flavor Explosion

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and fresh basil into the sauce. Watch it transform into a luxurious, velvety mixture. Season with salt, pepper, and a hint of red pepper for an extra kick.

• Final Embrace

Nestle cooked chicken back into the creamy sauce. Let flavors marry for a few moments. Serve hot, drizzling extra sauce over the top and garnishing with fresh basil leaves. Enjoy your restaurant-worthy meal at home.

Tweak The Flavor Of Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce

• Chicken Doneness Trick: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches exactly 165°F/74°C for perfectly juicy results without overcooking. Always let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking to retain moisture.
• Herb Swap Magic: Replace basil with other fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, or parsley for unique flavor profiles. Dried herbs work great too, but use half the amount compared to fresh herbs to prevent overwhelming the sauce.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a lactose-free version. Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese to maintain a rich, cheesy flavor without dairy.
• Low-Carb Option: Skip the flour coating and use almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a keto-friendly alternative. Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles to reduce carbohydrate content while keeping the dish deliciously satisfying.

Serve Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce Fresh And Hot

• Pasta Paradise: Toss the creamy chicken over fettuccine or linguine for a classic Italian-inspired dinner that'll transport your taste buds straight to a cozy trattoria.
• Veggie Companion Harmony: Serve alongside roasted asparagus, sautéed zucchini, or a crisp garden salad to balance the rich, luxurious sauce and add fresh, vibrant colors to your plate.
• Bread Sauce Soaker: Pair with warm, crusty garlic bread or homemade focaccia to soak up every delicious drop of the basil cream sauce, ensuring no flavor goes to waste.
• Meal Prep Magic: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, enjoying the chicken cold in salads or gently reheated for a quick, delectable lunch that keeps the culinary excitement alive.

How To Keep Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce For Meals

• Quick Meal Prep: Slice chicken breasts in advance and store in meal-prep containers for easy weeknight dinners. Separate sauce and chicken to maintain optimal texture and prevent soggy results.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover chicken and sauce in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days. Keep sauce and chicken separately to prevent sogginess and maintain crisp chicken coating.
• Freezing Technique: Freeze sauce and cooked chicken in separate freezer-safe containers for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and reheat gently to prevent sauce separation.
• Reheating Magic: Warm chicken in skillet with a splash of chicken broth to restore moisture. Stir sauce carefully over low heat, adding small amounts of cream if needed to restore creamy consistency.

Dreamy Chicken In Basil Cream Sauce Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 3 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy chicken basil recipe emerges as a luxurious Italian-inspired dish blending tender chicken with aromatic herbs. Silky sauce and fresh basil create a delightful meal that will satisfy you completely.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsps (45 mL) butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup (120 mL) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 mL) heavy cream
• ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
• ¼ cup basil leaves, fresh, finely chopped
• ½ tsp dried basil
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tbsps (30 mL) olive oil or butter (for cooking chicken)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Seasoning Preparation: Craft a flavorful coating by blending flour with garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper in a shallow container. Delicately coat each chicken breast, ensuring a light, even layer of seasoning.
2. Chicken Searing: Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium flame. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts, cooking until a golden-brown crust forms and the internal temperature signals perfect doneness.
3. Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic. Deglaze with chicken broth, capturing the pan’s caramelized essence and creating a flavor-rich base.
4. Cream Transformation: Pour heavy cream into the simmering liquid, allowing the mixture to reduce and thicken into a velvety sauce. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until it melts completely and creates a smooth, rich consistency.
5. Herb Infusion: Introduce fresh and dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the cream sauce. Gently fold the herbs, releasing their aromatic essence and creating a vibrant, multilayered flavor profile.
6. Final Assembly: Reunite the seared chicken with the basil-infused cream sauce, ensuring each piece is generously coated and absorbs the intricate flavors. Let the chicken and sauce meld together for a harmonious culinary experience.
7. Presentation: Elegantly plate the chicken, drizzling the remaining basil cream sauce over the top. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve alongside your preferred accompaniment like pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.

Notes

• Optimize Chicken Coating: Shake off excess flour to prevent clumping and ensure a light, crispy exterior that seals in moisture during cooking.
• Manage Skillet Temperature: Maintain medium heat to achieve golden-brown crust without burning; use a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet for even heat distribution.
• Cream Sauce Consistency: Stir continuously while reducing sauce to prevent separation and achieve a smooth, velvety texture; avoid boiling to keep sauce from breaking.
• Herb Intensity Control: Add fresh basil at the end of cooking to preserve its bright flavor and aroma; dried basil works better during sauce reduction for deeper infusion.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3
• Calories: 600
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 42 g
• Saturated Fat: 24 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg