Description
Smothered chicken with creamed spinach, bacon, & mushrooms combines southern comfort with elegant flavors. Home cooks discover a rich, satisfying meal that promises delightful textures and hearty warmth you can savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (large, cut in half lengthwise)
- 6 bacon strips (cut into small pieces)
- 8 oz (227 g) cremini mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or whipping cream)
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh baby spinach (loosely packed)
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- pepper (to taste)
- flour (for dredging)
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Render bacon pieces in a deep skillet over medium-high heat until crisp and golden. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon, reserving fat in the pan.
- Chicken Preparation: Butterfly chicken breasts horizontally, creating thinner cutlets. Season with garlic powder and black pepper, then lightly coat with flour.
- Chicken Cooking: Sear chicken in bacon fat, cooking 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove and set aside.
- Mushroom Sautéing: Add olive oil to the skillet and sauté mushrooms for 6-8 minutes, allowing them to caramelize and release moisture.
- Sauce Development: Deglaze skillet with chicken broth and balsamic vinegar, scraping the pan’s bottom. Reduce liquid by half to concentrate flavors.
- Cream Integration: Slowly whisk heavy cream into the reduced liquid, simmering 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes luxurious.
- Final Combination: Return chicken, bacon, and mushrooms to the creamy sauce. Simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld flavors completely.
- Spinach Wilting: Fold fresh spinach into the skillet, allowing leaves to wilt naturally while maintaining their vibrant color.
- Serving Suggestion: Plate the smothered chicken alongside fettuccine, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to complement the rich sauce.
Notes
- Bacon Rendering Technique: Cook bacon slowly to extract maximum flavor and create a perfect crispy texture without burning.
- Chicken Prep Precision: Butterflying chicken ensures even cooking and helps create tender, juicy cutlets that cook quickly and consistently.
- Temperature Mastery: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches exact 165°F, preventing undercooking while maintaining moisture.
- Mushroom Caramelization Secret: Allow mushrooms enough undisturbed skillet time to develop deep, rich browning for maximum umami flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 582
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 659 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 146 mg