Chicken Florentine

Here is a delicious & simple recipe for chicken Florentine. Its an deal comfort food because it combines tender chicken breasts with a creamy spinach and cream sauce.

It’s a perfect choice if you want to try a new, fresh recipe with chicken. It quickly gets ready and is very delicious.

What is Meant By Florentine?

In a Chicken Florentine recipe, “Florentine” means inclusion of spinach.

Spinach: The dish’s star is cooked spinach, usually served with the chicken.

Creamy Sauce: Chicken Florentine often comes with a rich & creamy sauce on top, adding great flavour.

So, when you see “Florentine,” think of it as a tasty combination of chicken, spinach, & a creamy sauce!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect chicken breasts that are tender and soft inside.
• Spinach and mushrooms in a creamy Florentine sauce with garlicky Alfredo sauce.
• It’s a really easy recipe; preparation time is just thirty minutes.
• Low crab dish
• Make the perfect pair with pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes.

Ingredients Needed

• Two large chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Flour for dredging
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
• 2 cups (loosely packed) fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions for Chicken Florentine

1. Prepare the Chicken

• Slice the Chicken: To create thin pieces of chicken meat, begin by cutting the chicken breasts in the middle, horizontally. Cooking is accelerated and heated more uniformly as a result. 
• Season: Spreadgarlic powder, salt, and pepper on the two sides of each chicken piece.
• Dredge in Flour: First, put an inch of flour with the chicken to make sure that all sides of the meat are coated with flour. It will help obtain a suitable crispness level when the ‘pops’ are cooked.

2. Cook the Chicken

• Heat the Skillet: Heat a skillet until medium-high & add 2 tablespoons of new, untasted olive oil plus 1 tablespoon of fresh butter. Once the butter is melted & hissing, add the chicken pieces into the pan.
• Cook: Fry the chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden and brown and no longer pink in the centre and liquidy. After that is done, take the chicken out of the skillet and place it aside, on a plate, until later.

3. Make the Sauce

• Sauté Garlic: Put in a tablespoon of butter and minced garlic. Sauté in the same skillet for approximately 30 seconds, stirring all the time until they turn golden brown but not blackened.
• Add Liquids: Add white beverage and chicken broth, and, finally, Italian seasoning that you like. Here, I recommend the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes so it can thicken to intensify the taste.

• Add cream: Pour it in the cream and let it simmer for about 2 minutes to thicken a bit more than normal cream sauce.

Add Spinach & Finish Cooking

• In this, add Spanish and cook until tender. 
• After cooking, return the chicken pieces to the pan with the sauces. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until everything is thoroughly cooked; the sauce thickens slightly. 
• During this time, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top and let it melt directly on the dish.

Serving

First, taste the seasonings & adjust them to suit your palate. Every spice is balanced, but you can add salt or pepper according to your needs and preferences.

Top the hot chicken with the creamy sauce & serve. 

Trust me, if you are a beginner and want to make it your guest, first will not believe you made it 🙂.

Can I Use Chicken Thigh for This Recipe?

I sometimes make this recipe with boneless chicken and skinless chicken thighs. My friend has tried this recipe many times. She said that boneless chicken and skinless chicken thighs are better for this recipe. 

Because they are fattier, it’s easy to handle & manage them while cooking, but as the chicken part changes, it will make a minor change while cooking, too; well, it’s the usual thing 🙂, so don’t panic. If you make it with chicken thigh, it may take longer.

Cooking time

• As I mentioned, it will take more time than chicken breast cooking, which might be 6 minutes per side.

Crispiness

• For chicken thighs, you need to sear the chicken for crispy skin.

More Flavorful

• As we know, chicken thighs are fattier than chicken breasts, so they have a more intense flavor.

Best Side Dishes with Chicken Florentine

1. Chicken Florentine goes very well with a choice of side dishes that complement the meal. For example, roasted vegetables are good for your health. For the vegetables, throw some asparagus and carrots in olive oil and garlic, roast them, and add them to the plate as they will be crunchy.
2. Another one is mashed potatoes, which are my favorite. Soft and tender to the bite, they perfectly accompany the flavor of chicken florentine and absorb the sauce wonderfully well. Sometimes, putting a little garlic or cheese will spice things up.
3. Rice also is a great example. The combination of long-grain rice, fluffy, either plain or garnished with herbs, complements the creamy sauce and gives a nice texture to the meal.
4. What about pasta? Another way to consume any leftovers is by preparing plain spaghetti or fettuccine and spreading it with olive oil.

What To Do With Leftover Chicken Florentine?

Sometimes, we don’t feel like eating a specific dish, therefore in such times, if we can make more dishes, What could be more desirable than that? Chicken Florentine is a dish I like a lot, so I prepare it in larger quantities. After that, I try various other recipes with it.

1. Chicken Florentine Pizza

Place a thin layer of olive oil and crushed garlic on the pizza crust; the top with your leftover Chicken Florentine. Throw in mozzarella cheese and bake till it becomes bubbly to give your pizza night some variation.

2. Chicken Florentine Sandwich

Prepare a thick sandwich by laying the Chicken Florentine on a slice of breadcrumbs and top it with an equivalent slice. If you would like, put more of this on the sandwich and wait until it turns golden brown and the filling is hot.

3. Chicken Florentine Casserole

Stir the excess into cooked pasta, add a topping of cream or cheese, and bake the whole thing. Its perfect for preparation in advance and can be frozen in the freezer.

Related FAQs

Is chicken thighs good instead of breasts?  

Chicken breasts can be replaced with chicken thighs. Thighs are tastier & remain juicy when cooked.

What is Florentine chicken preparation time?  

In most cases, you can prepare Chicken Florentine in about thirty minutes.

How to  freeze Chicken Florentine?  

It’s best not to freeze Chicken Florentine. The creamy sauce might not taste the same when you defrost it out.

What should I serve with Chicken Florentine?  

Roasted vegetables, rice, or pasta go nicely with chicken Florentine. These sides complement the creamy sauce nicely.

How to check when the Chicken is prepared?

When the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F,you can eat it . Make sure it is thoroughly cooked.

Final Words

I appreciate you taking the time to read my recipe for Chicken Florentine, and I hope you had fun making it. The combination of spinach, garlic, and a rich white wine sauce creates a delectable yet filling lunch. Read my other posts if you’re looking for more ideas for chicken dinners.

Thanks for agreeing to join me in the kitchen. See you next time when I bring you another lovely, easy-to-prepare dish that you and your family can prepare with friends.