Tuscan chicken is a traditional Italian dish that consists of chicken breasts cooked in a creamy sauce made with tomatoes, spinach, and cream. It is usually served with pasta or rice.
The basic ingredients of Tuscan chicken are: Skinless chicken breasts, Cherry tomatoes, Spinach, Cream, Parmesan cheese, and spices
To make Tuscan chicken a Weight Watchers recipe, you need to substitute the cream for a little bit of Greek yogurt and a couple of teaspoons of Parmesan cheese to add flavor. This will reduce the number of Weight Watchers points per serving from 6 to 1.
This is a slightly different take on my previous tuscan chicken.
Why you should try Tuscan Chicken
Tuscan chicken is a creamy and flavorful dish that is quick and easy to make and can be adapted to a healthy diet. Substituting the cream for Greek yogurt and Parmesan cheese reduces the fat and calorie content of the recipe, but maintains its flavor.
Cooking time:
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 25 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
Portions: 4
Serving size: 250 g.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 500 g.)
- 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 240 g.
- 1 cup spinach, 30 g.
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Provençal herbs (or herbs de Provence)
- 3 cloves garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions for making Tuscan Chicken
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic, and Provençal herbs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and spinach to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.
- Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the heat and stir in the yogurt and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Variations and substitutions
- Substitute arugula for spinach. Arugula has a more intense flavor than spinach and gives the dish a different twist.
- Use sun-dried tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes have a more concentrated flavor than fresh tomatoes and give the dish a Mediterranean touch. However, choose sun-dried tomatoes that are not packed in oil, or you can also choose to dehydrate them at home.
Tips and Tricks Section for making Tuscan Chicken
- Marinating the chicken initially is very important; if you can, use Provençal herbs or create your own homemade blend by combining oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
- One of the most common mistakes people make when making this recipe is cooking the yogurt or cream. When you do this, the yogurt or cream will curdle and form lumps in the sauce. To avoid this, it is important to sear the chicken breast well and then finish cooking with the tomatoes and spinach. This will ensure that the chicken is cooked through by the time you add the yogurt, and you can turn off the heat immediately.
- I think pasta is one of the best side dishes for Tuscan chicken, but I recommend opting for zucchini noodles or any other healthier option. You could even indulge in some steamed potatoes.
Related Recipes
Tuscan Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 500 g.)
- 1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 240 g.
- 1 cup spinach, 30 g.
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Provençal herbs
- 3 cloves garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic, and Provençal herbs.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and spinach to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted.
- Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the heat and stir in the yogurt and Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
