If you’re searching for a recipe that delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort, you’ve found it. This creamy Boursin Chicken is the answer to your weeknight dinner prayers. It’s a one-pan wonder featuring tender, golden-seared chicken breasts enveloped in a luscious and savory Boursin cheese sauce with fresh spinach. This dish is deceptively simple, relying on the “secret weapon” of Boursin cheese to do all the heavy lifting on flavor.
We’re making weeknight meals that are both elegant and incredibly easy. Forget complicated recipes with a laundry list of ingredients. This entire meal comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy evenings when you’re craving something special without the stress. Let’s dive into creating what will surely become a new staple in your dinner rotation.
Why This Boursin Chicken Recipe is a Must-Try
This isn’t just another chicken recipe; it’s a game-changer for your meal plan. It strikes the perfect balance between sophistication and simplicity, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.
- Incredibly Flavorful: The Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese melts into a velvety, savory sauce that perfectly coats the chicken. Every bite is packed with flavor.
- Lightning Fast: From prep to plate in 30 minutes or less! It’s the ideal solution for getting a delicious, home-cooked meal on the table fast.
- Simple, Accessible Ingredients: You only need a handful of common ingredients to create this masterpiece. No hard-to-find items, just pure, simple goodness.
- One-Pan Cleanup: Everything is cooked in a single skillet, which means less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your meal.
The Star of the Show: Boursin Cheese
What exactly is Boursin? It’s a brand of Gournay cheese, a soft, creamy cheese that is similar in texture to cream cheese but with a uniquely rich and slightly crumbly consistency. The most popular variety, and the one we use in this recipe, is Garlic & Fine Herbs. It’s infused with a robust blend of savory garlic and aromatic herbs like parsley and chives. This built-in flavor bomb is what allows us to create a complex-tasting sauce with almost no effort.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
- Chicken Breasts: We recommend using two large breasts, sliced in half horizontally to create four thin cutlets. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly.
- Boursin Cheese: One 5.2 oz package of Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese is perfect. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften.
- Olive Oil & Butter: A combination for searing the chicken to a perfect golden-brown.
- Garlic: A couple of minced cloves add a fresh, aromatic base to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth: To deglaze the pan and form the liquid base of our sauce.
- Heavy Cream: This is key to creating that ultra-creamy, luxurious texture.
- Spinach: A few handfuls of fresh spinach wilt beautifully into the sauce, adding nutrients and a pop of color.
- Salt & Pepper: To season the chicken and the final sauce to your liking.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Boursin Chicken
Follow these simple steps to create a flawless dish every time. The process is straightforward and rewarding.
- Prepare the Chicken: If you have large chicken breasts, slice them in half horizontally to create four thinner cutlets. Pat them dry with a paper towel and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and sizzling, carefully place the chicken cutlets in the pan. Sear for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- Start the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Deglaze and Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits (the fond) from the bottom of the pan. This is where the flavor is! Let the broth simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Make it Creamy: Stir in the heavy cream and add the Boursin cheese, breaking it up with your spoon. Whisk continuously until the cheese has completely melted into a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Wilt the Spinach: Add the fresh spinach to the skillet and stir until it has wilted into the sauce, which should only take about a minute.
- Combine and Serve: Return the seared chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for another minute to heat through. Serve immediately.
For those who love creamy dinners, you might also enjoy the comforting flavors of this crockpot marry me chicken recipe. It’s another fantastic option for a satisfying meal.
Tips for a Flawless Creamy Chicken Dinner
A few simple tips can elevate your Boursin Chicken from great to absolutely spectacular.
- Don’t Overcook the Chicken: Thin chicken cutlets cook very quickly. Searing them for 4-5 minutes per side is usually enough. Overcooked chicken can become tough and dry.
- Use Room Temperature Cheese: Allowing the Boursin cheese to soften slightly before adding it to the pan helps it melt more evenly and quickly, resulting in a smoother sauce.
- Scrape the Brown Bits: That “fond” at the bottom of the pan after searing is concentrated flavor. Don’t skip the step of scraping it up when you deglaze with chicken broth!
- Adjust Sauce Thickness: If your sauce is too thick, whisk in a little more chicken broth or cream until it reaches your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, let it simmer for a few extra minutes to reduce.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also a wonderful canvas for creativity. Here are a few ideas to switch things up:
- Add Sautéed Mushrooms: Sauté sliced mushrooms in the skillet after removing the chicken and before adding the garlic for an extra layer of earthy flavor.
- Stir in Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Add some chopped, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes along with the spinach for a tangy, sweet counterpoint to the creamy sauce.
- Make it a Pasta Dish: This sauce is incredible tossed with your favorite pasta. For a similar flavor profile, check out this creamy salmon spinach pasta. Simply pour the sauce over cooked fettuccine or penne and top with the sliced chicken.
- Introduce a Little Heat: A pinch of red pepper flakes added with the garlic will give the sauce a subtle, warming kick.
What to Serve with Boursin Chicken
This creamy chicken dish pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. The goal is to have something that can soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce.
- Pasta: Serve over a bed of fettuccine, linguine, or penne.
- Rice: Plain white or brown rice is a perfect vessel for the sauce. A flavorful Spanish rice can also be a great companion.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes and this Boursin sauce are a match made in heaven.
- Crusty Bread: A warm baguette is essential for sopping up the sauce.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted asparagus, broccoli, or green beans add a healthy and delicious component to the meal.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Leftover Boursin Chicken stores and reheats wonderfully, making it a great option for meal prep or next-day lunches. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the chicken and sauce in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth or milk to thin the sauce back to its original consistency. Avoid using the microwave if possible, as it can sometimes make the chicken rubbery and cause the cream sauce to separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, while thin-sliced chicken breasts work best for quick cooking, you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You will need to adjust the cooking time to ensure they are cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or milk to loosen the sauce. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the chicken tough.
For a similar creamy and flavorful result, you can substitute an equal amount of plain cream cheese mixed with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of dried herbs (like parsley and chives), and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Boursin is a brand of Gournay cheese, which is a soft, creamy cheese similar to cream cheese. The most popular variety for this recipe is ‘Garlic & Fine Herbs,’ known for its rich flavor and crumbly texture that melts perfectly into a sauce.
This creamy chicken is incredibly versatile. It pairs wonderfully with pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce. For a lighter meal, serve it with roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, or a simple green salad.
The Recipe
Boursin Chicken: The Ultimate 30-Minute Creamy Skillet Dinner
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prepare the chicken by slicing the breasts horizontally into 4 thin cutlets. Pat dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Add the softened Boursin cheese and whisk until it melts into a smooth sauce.
- Add the fresh spinach and stir until just wilted, about 1 minute.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning some of the sauce over the top. Let it heat through for a minute before serving.
Notes
Don't overcrowd the pan when searing the chicken; cook in two batches if necessary to get a perfect golden crust.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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