Description
Mozzarella chicken in basil cream sauce offers a luxurious Italian-inspired dinner perfect for elegant weeknight meals. Creamy, herbal notes blend seamlessly with tender chicken, creating a memorable dining experience you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil (chopped)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
Instructions
- Seasoning Sensation: Massage chicken cutlets with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, ensuring thorough flavor infusion across every surface.
- Searing Symphony: Ignite a large skillet with olive oil and butter over medium-high heat, creating a golden-brown canvas for the chicken’s transformation.
- Culinary Choreography: Introduce seasoned chicken to the sizzling pan, developing a caramelized exterior for 4-5 minutes per side, confirming doneness at 165°F internal temperature, then crown with a molten mozzarella slice.
- Aromatic Alchemy: Without cleansing the skillet, unleash minced garlic’s essence, quickly deglaze with chicken broth, and meticulously scrape flavor-packed remnants from the pan’s surface.
- Sauce Elevation: Craft a velvety sauce by blending heavy cream, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, simmering to develop a rich, complex flavor profile for 2-3 minutes.
- Herbal Harmony: Weave freshly chopped basil into the sauce, reunite chicken with the cream mixture, and allow a final 2-3 minute simmer for complete flavor integration.
- Elegant Presentation: Serve atop pasta, fluffy rice, or alongside crusty bread, ensuring every droplet of the luxurious sauce is savored.
Notes
- -Maximize Flavor Absorption: Massage seasonings into chicken cutlets thoroughly, ensuring each crevice receives intense flavor penetration for a more delicious result.
- -Control Searing Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without burning, creating a caramelized crust that locks in moisture.
- -Check Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches exactly 165°F, preventing overcooking while ensuring food safety and juicy texture.
- -Customize Sauce Consistency: Adjust sauce thickness by simmering longer for a richer reduction or adding extra broth if too thick, tailoring to personal preference and desired coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 555
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 170 mg