Description
A creamy and flavorful Chicken Florentine recipe featuring tender marinated chicken thighs cooked in a rich sauce of heavy cream, fresh spinach, Parmesan cheese, and aromatic spices. This skillet-cooked dish is perfect for a comforting dinner and serves four.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
Sauce
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 cups heavy cream, room temperature
- 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
- â…“ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl or ziplock bag, combine crushed garlic, extra virgin olive oil, sweet paprika, ground black pepper, kosher salt, and ground turmeric thoroughly. Add the chicken thighs and coat them well with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors infuse into the chicken.
- Cook Chicken: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the marinated chicken thighs and cook them for 8 to 10 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
- Deglaze Pan: Pour the dry white wine into the hot skillet. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. This will add a depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Make Sauce: Add the fresh spinach leaves and heavy cream to the skillet. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the spinach is wilted and the cream starts to thicken. Then, stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and cook for an additional 2 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Finish and Serve: Return the cooked chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy spinach sauce. Cook for 2 more minutes to heat the chicken through. Garnish with chopped green onions and serve the dish hot for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours is important for tender and flavorful meat.
- Use a non-stick skillet to prevent the chicken from sticking and to easily deglaze the pan.
- Ensure the heavy cream is at room temperature to avoid curdling when added to the warm pan.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese delivers better flavor and texture than pre-grated.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or crusty bread to enjoy the creamy sauce fully.
