Description
Succulent creamy chicken combines tender meat with a luscious sauce that elevates home cooking to gourmet levels. Comfort meets elegance in this simple yet sophisticated dish you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 3 tbsps basil pesto
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (120 ml) low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 small bell peppers, cut into long thin strips (any color)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup (75 g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh basil, for garnish
- Grated parmesan, for garnish
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Coat chicken strips with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, ensuring comprehensive flavor infusion.
- Initial Searing: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium flame, then golden-sear chicken strips until thoroughly cooked, approximately 7-8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Aromatic Foundation: Sauté onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, allowing their intense flavors to develop.
- Vegetable Integration: Add bell peppers, cooking until tender yet maintaining slight crispness, creating a vibrant vegetable base.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk together heavy cream, chicken broth, and pesto in a separate bowl, then pour into the skillet, creating a rich, creamy sauce.
- Final Composition: Return chicken to the skillet, allowing it to warm and absorb the sauce’s nuanced flavors. Simmer until the sauce thickens and develops a glossy consistency.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with freshly grated parmesan and delicate basil leaves, elevating the dish’s visual and flavor profile.
Notes
- Optimize Seasoning: Generously coat chicken with Italian herbs to maximize flavor penetration and ensure every bite bursts with taste.
- Manage Heat Carefully: Watch skillet temperature to prevent burning; golden-brown chicken signals perfect searing without drying out meat.
- Sauce Consistency Matters: Whisk cream and broth thoroughly to create smooth, lump-free sauce that clings beautifully to chicken and vegetables.
- Strategic Vegetable Layering: Sauté vegetables in order of cooking time to maintain crisp texture and prevent overcooking or mushy results.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 482
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 121mg