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
- 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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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