Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Baby Spinach & Cherry Tomatoes

A one-pan wonder for when you want dinner to look impressive and clean-up to be minimal

If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re dining in a charming Italian villa—but without needing a passport, pasta-making skills, or the energy to cook for hours—this dish is for you. Creamy Tuscan Chicken is rich, comforting, and just fancy enough to impress a guest (or make a Tuesday night feel like a win).

Even better? It’s a one-pan meal. Which means fewer dishes, less stress, and more time to sit back and bask in your culinary brilliance. Or scroll your phone. No judgement here.

Let’s dive in—apron optional.

🛒 What You’ll Need (for one hungry human)

The essentials:

1 boneless skinless chicken thigh (or 2 if you’re extra hungry)
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
A small handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
A small handful of baby spinach
2 tbsp cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter version)
A sprinkle of grated parmesan (roughly 1 tbsp)
A few fresh basil leaves, torn
Salt and pepper to taste

To serve:

Crusty bread, cooked couscous, or microwave rice—your call.

🍳 How to Make It

1. Sear the chicken

Heat olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat.
Pat your chicken dry, season both sides with salt and pepper, then pop it in the pan.
Cook for about 4–5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.
Remove and set aside to rest while you make the creamy magic.

2. Build the sauce

In the same pan, add a little more oil if it’s dry, then toss in the chopped garlic. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add cherry tomatoes and let them blister and soften for about 2–3 minutes.
Stir in the cream and bring it to a gentle simmer (low heat is your friend here).
Add baby spinach and stir until wilted.

3. Finish like a pro

Return the chicken to the pan and coat it lovingly in that creamy sauce.
Sprinkle in the parmesan and fresh basil.
Simmer everything together for another minute or two until warmed through and slightly thickened.

🧠 Why It Works

It’s rich and comforting without being heavy—a little goes a long way.
One pan = less mess. The holy grail of single-person cooking.
Balanced flavours from the sweetness of the tomatoes, the savoury chicken, and the bright freshness of basil.
Flexible serving: Soak up the sauce with bread, spoon it over couscous, or just eat it straight from the pan like a savage. (Hey, no one’s watching.)

🥄 Swaps & Tips

Lighten it up: Greek yogurt works instead of cream. Add it after turning off the heat to stop it from curdling.
No parmesan? Use any hard cheese or skip it entirely—still delicious.
Vegetarian option: Use haloumi or mushrooms instead of chicken. It still soaks up the creamy sauce like a champ.
Gluten-free? Stick with rice or gluten-free couscous. Easy.

🧡 Perfect For:

Low-effort, high-reward dinners
Date night (real or imaginary)
That one leftover basil sprig you forgot was in the fridge

🙌 Wrap-Up

This dish is proof that creamy doesn’t have to mean complicated. With a few fresh ingredients, a pan, and a bit of parmesan-powered courage, you’ve got yourself a rich, soul-soothing dinner that feels like a hug from your favourite Italian nonna—minus the passive-aggressive remarks about your relationship status.

Tried it? Loved it? Completely forgot to add the spinach? Join the club and subscribe to the Plan4One newsletter for more solo-friendly recipes, tips, and relatable cooking chaos you’ll actually enjoy.