Creamy Tuscan Chicken Rice Skillet (Printable)

Tender chicken and rice in a rich garlic-Parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach—a cozy Italian-inspired skillet ready in 45 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch cubes

→ Rice & Grains

02 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
06 - ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
07 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

→ Dairy

08 - 1 cup heavy cream
09 - ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ Liquids

10 - 2½ cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Fats & Oils

11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

→ Seasonings

13 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
14 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
15 - Salt and black pepper to taste
16 - Fresh basil for garnish (optional)

# How to Make:

01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken cubes, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden on all sides, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Remove and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add sun-dried tomatoes and cherry tomatoes if using, and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
04 - Stir in the rice, coating it well with the oil and aromatics.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
06 - Once the rice is nearly tender and most liquid is absorbed, stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes. Return seared chicken to the pan.
07 - Simmer gently without a lid for 5 to 7 minutes until sauce thickens, rice is cooked, and chicken is heated through.
08 - Fold in chopped spinach and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
09 - Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely a one-pan situation, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying actual food.
  • The creamy sauce and tender chicken come together without any fussy techniques or timing tricks.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes add this concentrated, slightly sweet punch that makes the whole thing taste more interesting than the ingredient list suggests.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step for the rice, and don't peek constantly while it simmers; those brief steaming moments are when the grains finish cooking properly.
  • The cream will seize up if you add it when the pan is screaming hot, so reduce your heat before pouring it in and stir constantly for the first few seconds.
03 -
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated when you add the cream, lower the heat immediately and whisk constantly until it comes back together; a broken sauce is usually just a temperature problem.
  • Taste the sauce before you finish cooking and adjust the salt early; it's much harder to fix if you only taste at the very end when everything is already cooked.
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