Get ready to transform your weeknight dinner with this incredibly easy and devastatingly delicious Instant Pot Tuscan Chicken. Imagine tender, juicy chicken breasts smothered in a rich, creamy sauce studded with sun-dried tomatoes and vibrant spinach - all prepared in less time than it takes to watch your favorite sitcom. This restaurant-quality dish brings the flavors of Tuscany straight to your kitchen, with minimal effort and maximum flavor that will have your family begging for seconds.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by patting chicken breasts dry with paper towels and seasoning both sides generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Turn Instant Pot to "Sauté" mode and heat olive oil until shimmering. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into the pot and brown for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden.
- Remove chicken breasts and set aside on a clean plate. Keep the pot on "Sauté" mode and add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, stirring for 1 minute to release their flavors.
- Pour heavy cream into the pot, scraping any browned bits from the bottom to prevent burning. Stir cream and sun-dried tomatoes together until well combined.
- Return chicken breasts to the pot, nestling them into the cream sauce. Close the Instant Pot lid, set valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Once cooking completes, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then carefully do a quick release for remaining pressure.
- Open lid and gently stir in fresh spinach, which will wilt quickly from the residual heat. Let sit for 2 minutes until spinach is tender.
- Check chicken's internal temperature reaches 165°F. If needed, return to pressure for additional 2-3 minutes.
- Plate chicken breasts, spoon extra sauce and tomatoes over the top, and serve immediately with your choice of side dishes like pasta or roasted vegetables.
Tips
- Pat the chicken breasts completely dry before seasoning to ensure perfect browning and maximum flavor absorption.
- Use fresh, high-quality Italian seasoning for the most authentic taste profile.
- Don't skip the browning step - it adds incredible depth of flavor to the entire dish.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken; use a meat thermometer to check it reaches exactly 165°F.
- For a lighter version, you can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a non-dairy cream alternative.
- Fresh spinach works best - frozen spinach can make the sauce watery.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute, ensuring maximum tenderness.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 550kcal
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 45g
Fat: 38g
Saturated Fat: 20g
Cholesterol: 150mg
