Zesty Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce Recipe: A Tasty Treat

Tender chicken sizzles in a luscious basil cream sauce that dances with rich, velvety flavors.

The aroma fills your kitchen with an irresistible Mediterranean charm.

Fresh basil leaves weave their magic through each creamy bite.

This restaurant-quality dish emerges from simple ingredients and minimal effort.

Professional chefs would marvel at how quickly you can craft such an elegant meal.

Weeknight dinners just got a serious upgrade with this silky, herbaceous sauce.

One forkful and you’ll understand why this recipe belongs in your culinary repertoire.

Steps to Cook Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce

• Chicken Preparation

Slice chicken breasts horizontally into thin cutlets. Gently pound each piece to create uniform thickness for even cooking.

• Coating Process

Dip chicken pieces into milk, then generously cover with breadcrumbs, ensuring a complete and even layer that will create a crispy exterior.

• Initial Cooking

Heat butter in a skillet and carefully brown chicken cutlets until they develop a golden color, creating delicious caramelized edges that enhance flavor.

• Cream Sauce Creation

Sauté garlic briefly, then introduce chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Pour in cream and let the liquid develop rich depth. Incorporate Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, stirring until the sauce transforms into a silky, luxurious consistency.

• Final Touches

Transfer chicken to oven to complete cooking while sauce thickens. Once done, drizzle the aromatic basil cream sauce over the golden chicken cutlets, creating a restaurant-quality meal ready to delight your taste buds.

Tips to Enrich Basil Sauce Flavor

• Replace fresh basil with other aromatic herbs like thyme, oregano, or rosemary to create exciting flavor variations that match your taste preferences.
• Prepare the chicken and sauce components separately up to 24 hours in advance, storing them in airtight containers in the refrigerator for a quick and convenient meal solution.
• Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a lighter, lactose-free version that maintains the sauce's rich, creamy consistency.
• Add red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne to the sauce for those who enjoy a subtle kick of heat, transforming the dish from mild to mildly spicy.

How to Serve Chicken in Basil Sauce

• Side Salad Pairing: Create a light, crisp garden salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and a tangy vinaigrette to balance the rich, creamy chicken sauce.
• Carb Companion: Serve alongside fluffy white rice or buttery garlic mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious basil cream sauce and add a comforting element to the meal.
• Wine Selection: Pair this elegant chicken dish with a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, which complements the creamy sauce and brings out the fresh basil notes.
• Herb Garnish: Sprinkle extra fresh basil leaves on top of the chicken just before serving to enhance the aromatic flavor and add a beautiful green pop of color to the plate.

Best Ways to Store Chicken in Cream Sauce

• Refrigerator Recovery: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the sauce covers the chicken to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
• Quick Reheat Strategy: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 45-60 seconds, adding a splash of chicken broth to refresh the sauce's creamy texture. Stir midway through heating to distribute warmth evenly.
• Freezer Friendly Option: Separate chicken and sauce before freezing. Package in freezer-safe containers, removing excess air. Frozen meals will stay delicious for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Ingredient Prep Hack: Chop fresh basil and grate Parmesan cheese in advance. Store in sealed containers in the refrigerator, reducing meal preparation time by 10-15 minutes when you're ready to cook.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Total Time: 45 min

Calories: 756 kcal

Servings: 5

Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce: Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the heart of the dish, choose fresh, plump breasts with minimal visible fat.
• Milk: Helps breadcrumbs adhere and tenderizes the chicken, use whole milk for richer coating.
• Breadcrumbs: Creates a crispy golden exterior, opt for fine, evenly ground breadcrumbs for smooth coverage.

• Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps achieve beautiful golden-brown color, use unsalted for better control of saltiness.
• Chicken Broth: Provides depth of flavor and helps deglaze the pan, select low-sodium for balanced taste.

• Garlic: Brings aromatic intensity and warmth, choose fresh cloves for most vibrant flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, silky sauce texture, select high-quality cream for smoothest consistency.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds sharp, salty notes and helps thicken sauce, freshly grated delivers most robust taste.
• Fresh Basil: Introduces bright, herbaceous flavor, select bright green leaves without wilting.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and enhances overall seasoning, freshly ground offers most complex flavor.

Tools for Creamy Basil Chicken Dish

• Large Skillet: Essential for browning chicken and creating the creamy sauce.
• Shallow Bowls (2): Perfect for dipping chicken in milk and breadcrumbs.
• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Needed to finish cooking chicken in the oven.
• Meat Mallet or Rolling Pin: Great for pounding chicken to even thickness.
• Cooking Spray: Helps prevent chicken from sticking to the baking dish.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.
• Sharp Knife: Required for slicing and chopping ingredients.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Ideal for stirring sauce and moving chicken.

Velvety Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 45 min
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy chicken basil sauce delivers a luxurious Italian-inspired dining experience with rich, aromatic flavors. Herb-infused cream and tender chicken create a perfect harmony that delights palates seeking comfort and elegance.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• ¾ cup (180 ml) dried Italian breadcrumbs
• ½ cup (50 g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup (120 ml) milk
• ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 3 tbsps (45 g) butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup (15 g) chopped fresh basil
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Butterfly chicken breasts by slicing horizontally, creating four uniform cutlets. Gently tenderize each piece to an even thickness using a meat mallet.
2. Coating: Create a two-stage dredging station with milk and breadcrumbs. Immerse chicken cutlets in milk, then coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure complete coverage.
3. Browning: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken cutlets until achieving a rich golden color, cooking approximately 2-3 minutes per side without scorching.
4. Oven Finishing: Transfer browned cutlets to a baking dish and roast in a preheated oven until internal temperature reaches 165°F, typically requiring 10 minutes of additional cooking.
5. Sauce Development: In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic until aromatic. Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping up caramelized remnants. Bring liquid to a robust simmer.
6. Cream Integration: Pour heavy cream into the skillet, stirring consistently. Reduce heat and blend in Parmesan cheese, freshly chopped basil, and cracked black pepper.
7. Sauce Refinement: Whisk sauce until it transforms into a luxurious, smooth consistency, allowing it to slightly thicken over 4-5 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
8. Plating: Arrange chicken cutlets and cascade the fragrant basil cream sauce over the top. Embellish with additional fresh basil leaves for an elegant presentation.

Notes

• Meat Preparation Technique: Butterflying and tenderizing chicken ensures even cooking and tender texture, preventing dry or tough meat.
• Breading Pro Tip: Press breadcrumbs firmly into chicken to create a crispy, uniform coating that locks in moisture and adds delightful crunch.
• Temperature Control: Monitor skillet heat carefully to achieve golden-brown exterior without burning, which can make chicken tough and bitter.
• Sauce Consistency Trick: Continuously whisk cream sauce to prevent separation and achieve a smooth, luxurious texture that clings perfectly to chicken.

• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 30 min
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 756
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 664mg
• Fat: 58g
• Saturated Fat: 36g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 26g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 40g
• Cholesterol: 204mg