Tomato Spinach White Wine Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken simmered in white wine with cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach creates an elegant, gluten-free Mediterranean dinner ready in under an hour.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.3 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 7 oz fresh spinach, washed
03 - 10.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
→ Liquids
06 - ⅔ cup dry white wine
07 - ½ cup chicken broth
→ Seasonings & Oils
08 - 2 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
# How-To Steps:
01 - Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dried basil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side until a golden crust forms. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
03 - Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the same skillet. Sauté the diced onion for about 2 minutes until translucent, then stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and release their juices.
05 - Pour in the dry white wine and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer.
06 - Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for 12 to 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
07 - Scatter the fresh spinach over the chicken and sauce. Cook uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and chili flakes if desired.
08 - Serve each chicken breast generously topped with the tomato-spinach pan sauce, alongside rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms basic weeknight ingredients into something that tastes like you spent hours, but the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
- The sauce practically builds itself while the chicken simmers, so you can pour yourself a glass of that wine and actually relax while cooking.
02 -
- Do not skip deglazing the pan because those caramelized bits stuck to the bottom contain more concentrated flavor than anything else you will add to the dish.
- Letting the chicken rest for two minutes after removing it from the skillet before serving keeps the juices inside where they belong rather than running all over your plate.
03 -
- Dry the chicken breasts thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning because moisture on the surface is the enemy of a good sear and will cause steaming instead.
- Resist the urge to stir the tomatoes constantly because letting them sit undisturbed for a minute at a time is what creates those gorgeous caramelized edges.