Keto Creamy Spinach Chicken (Printable version)

A rich one-pan chicken dish with mushrooms, spinach, and creamy sauce, perfect for keto diets.

# Needed ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.3 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Vegetables

05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 8 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
07 - 3 cups fresh spinach
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 2 oz cream cheese, softened
11 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
13 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh parsley, chopped, optional

# How to make it:

01 - Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely.
03 - In the same skillet, add sliced mushrooms and sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned.
04 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream, softened cream cheese, and Parmesan cheese to the skillet, stirring continuously until cream cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth.
06 - Stir in nutmeg and red pepper flakes if desired. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until sauce reaches desired consistency.
07 - Add fresh spinach to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring gently, until completely wilted.
08 - Return chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning sauce and vegetables over the top. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until chicken is heated through.
09 - Plate the chicken with mushrooms and spinach, drizzling remaining sauce over top. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely done in under 40 minutes, no shortcuts or lies about prep time.
  • Everything lives in one pan, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your meal.
  • The sauce is so silky and flavorful that you'll find yourself scraping the skillet clean.
  • Keto-friendly without tasting like you're missing anything or eating "diet food."
02 -
  • Don't crowd the mushrooms when sautéing—give them room to brown rather than steam, which means you might need to work in batches if your skillet is smaller.
  • The cream cheese will seize up into lumps if the heat is too high when you add it, so resist the urge to rush and keep that flame at medium-low.
  • Chicken breasts can dry out fast, which is why we finish by simmering them in the sauce rather than keeping them on a hot burner—gentle heat is your friend here.
03 -
  • Let your chicken rest for a minute after browning before slicing or eating—the heat will finish cooking the center while the outside stays tender.
  • If the sauce seems too thin as you finish cooking, just let it simmer another minute or two uncovered to reduce naturally rather than panicking.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully over low heat with a splash of cream stirred in, making this a great dish for meal prep.
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