Description
Creamy chicken basil sauce brings Italian elegance to your dinner table. Tender chicken breasts nestle in a luxurious herb-infused cream sauce that promises rich flavor and simple sophistication.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Coating and Cheese:
- ¾ cup dried Italian breadcrumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Liquids and Seasonings:
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Butterfly chicken breasts by slicing horizontally, creating four uniform cutlets. Gently tenderize each piece to an even half-inch thickness using a meat mallet.
- Prepare two shallow dishes: one with milk and another with breadcrumbs. Thoroughly immerse each chicken cutlet in milk, ensuring complete coverage, then carefully coat with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium temperature. Carefully brown chicken cutlets until golden, approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Maintain an even, delicate color without burning.
- Transfer browned cutlets to a prepared baking dish. Place in a preheated oven to complete cooking, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F, which typically takes around 10 minutes.
- In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic briefly until fragrant. Pour chicken broth, scraping accumulated browned bits from the pan’s surface. Bring liquid to a vigorous simmer.
- Introduce heavy cream to the skillet, stirring continuously. Allow sauce to bubble slightly, then reduce heat. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, freshly chopped basil, and cracked black pepper.
- Gently whisk sauce until it thickens and reaches a smooth, velvety consistency, approximately 4-5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Plate chicken cutlets and generously ladle the aromatic basil cream sauce over the top. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves for enhanced presentation.
Notes
- Precision matters when slicing and pounding chicken to ensure even cooking and tender results.
- Dipping chicken in milk before breadcrumbs creates a crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture.
- Finish cooking chicken in the oven guarantees safe internal temperature and prevents overcooking on the stovetop.
- Deglazing the pan with chicken broth captures delicious browned bits for extra flavor in the cream sauce.
- Gentle heat and constant stirring are crucial for preventing sauce separation and achieving smooth, creamy consistency.
- Fresh basil adds bright, aromatic notes that elevate the entire dish from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 685
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 31 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg