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Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken with Spinach Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 63 reviews

This creamy garlic butter chicken with spinach recipe features tender seared chicken thighs smothered in a rich, flavorful garlic butter sauce with sautéed onions, garlic, crispy bacon, and fresh spinach. Finished with a creamy blend of heavy cream, milk, and Parmesan cheese, and thickened with cornstarch, this dish is a comforting and delicious meal perfect for any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Sauce and Vegetables

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup cooked crispy bacon, diced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • Pinch of crushed chili pepper flakes
  • 3 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water

Instructions

  1. Season Chicken: Season the chicken thighs generously on both sides with salt and black pepper to prepare them for cooking.
  2. Heat Skillet and Sear Chicken: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, and sear the chicken thighs for 5-8 minutes on each side until fully cooked and golden brown. Then remove from skillet and set aside.
  3. Sauté Onions and Garlic: In the same skillet, add butter, chopped onions, and minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute until the onions become translucent and garlic is fragrant.
  4. Add Broth and Bacon: Pour in the chicken broth, reduce heat to low, and add diced crispy bacon. Cook the bacon in the mixture for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors.
  5. Add Cream and Seasonings: Stir in heavy cream and milk, then mix in Italian seasoning, oregano, crushed chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
  6. Cook Spinach: Add baby spinach leaves to the skillet and cook for a couple of minutes until wilted, blending the greens into the creamy sauce.
  7. Add Cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and mix well to combine and melt into the sauce.
  8. Thicken Sauce: In a small bowl, combine cornstarch with water to make a slurry, then pour it into the skillet and stir continuously until the sauce thickens.
  9. Finish Cooking Chicken: Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, coating them with the sauce. Let everything simmer together for a couple of minutes until heated through and flavors melded.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken breasts or turkey cutlets if you prefer leaner meat.
  • For a dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream and milk with unsweetened almond milk.
  • Use ghee instead of butter for a richer flavor.
  • Vegetable broth can be used instead of chicken broth for a plant-based alternative.
  • If fresh garlic is unavailable, garlic powder or flakes may be used but adjust quantity to taste.
  • Adjust chili flakes to control spice level as preferred.
  • Substitute Swiss chard or kale for spinach if desired.
  • Arrowroot powder can replace cornstarch as a thickening agent.

Keywords: Garlic Butter Chicken, Creamy Chicken, Chicken with Spinach, Dinner Recipe, One Pan Chicken, Easy Chicken Dinner, Low Carb Chicken

Find it online: https://tastybella.com/creamy-garlic-butter-chicken-with-spinach-recipe/