Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce
A comforting dish featuring tender chicken cutlets in a creamy basil sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners and special occasions.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts These cutlets are the heart of the dish.
- 1/2 cup milk Helps breadcrumbs stick.
- 3/4 cup dried Italian breadcrumbs Coats the chicken for a crispy texture.
- 3 tablespoons butter Adds richness and depth of flavor.
- 2 cloves garlic, minced Enhances the overall taste profile.
- 1/2 cup chicken broth Crucial for deglazing the pan.
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream Makes the sauce luxuriously smooth.
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Adds savory umami flavor.
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil Provides a burst of herbal flavor.
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper Ties all the flavors together.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 275°F (135°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create four cutlets. Pound each cutlet to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.
- In one shallow bowl, pour the milk, and in another, place the dried breadcrumbs. Dip each chicken cutlet in the milk, then coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs.
Cooking
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the coated chicken cutlets until golden brown on each side.
- Transfer cooked chicken to the baking dish and place in the oven to finish cooking for about 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
- For the Basil Cream Sauce, in the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add chicken broth, bringing it to a boil and scraping the browned bits from the pan.
- Reduce heat, stir in heavy cream, bring back to a slight boil, then add Parmesan cheese, basil, and black pepper. Stir for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serving
- Serve the chicken cutlets hot, drizzled with the creamy basil sauce.
Notes
For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in herbs before breading. Toast breadcrumbs before using for crunch. Add a squeeze of lemon juice before serving for balance.