Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet Recipe

The Perfect Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet Recipe for Busy Nights

Spinach artichoke chicken skillet brings together comfort and nutrition in one delightful culinary creation.

Hearty proteins blend seamlessly with vibrant vegetables, creating a meal that satisfies both hunger and taste buds.

Mediterranean-inspired flavors dance across your palate, crafting simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Rich, creamy textures complement the tender chicken, making each bite a delectable experience.

The combination feels like a warm embrace from a passionate home chef who understands balanced cooking.

Colorful ingredients mingle effortlessly, promising a dish that looks as spectacular as it tastes.

This skillet sensation delivers a perfect weeknight dinner solution that feels both elegant and approachable.

Why People Love Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet

  • Create a Flavor-Packed One-Pan Wonder: This skillet recipe delivers incredible taste with minimal cleanup, combining juicy chicken, creamy sauce, and nutritious greens in a single pan that goes from stovetop to table effortlessly.
  • Boost Nutrition with Delightful Ingredients: Spinach and artichoke hearts pack powerful nutrients, transforming a simple chicken dish into a wholesome meal bursting with vitamins, minerals, and delectable Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
  • Quick and Easy Weeknight Cooking Solution: This recipe takes just 20 minutes to prepare, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want a gourmet-style dinner without spending hours in the kitchen or dealing with complicated techniques.

What You’ll Need for the Chicken Skillet

Protein:
  • Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main dish, best when fresh and boneless.
  • Sea Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for enhancing chicken's natural flavor.
Cooking Fats:
  • Ghee, Olive Oil: Provides rich flavor and prevents sticking, choose high-quality options for best taste.
Herbs and Spices:
  • Dried Basil, Garlic Powder: Adds aromatic depth and complexity to the chicken's seasoning.
Sauce Ingredients:
  • Chicken Broth, Coconut Milk: Creates a creamy, flavorful base with subtle richness.
  • Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and helps balance the dish's richness.
  • Arrowroot Starch: Helps thicken the sauce smoothly without lumps.
Vegetable Components:
  • Artichoke Hearts, Spinach: Adds nutrition, texture, and earthy flavors to the skillet.
  • Minced Garlic, Chopped Onion: Provides aromatic base and depth to the overall dish.
Garnish:
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Offers optional heat and visual appeal to the finished dish.

Skillet Cooking Instructions for Spinach Artichoke Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Seasoning

Sprinkle chicken breasts with dried basil, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper on both sides. Ensure an even coating for maximum flavor.

Step 2: Cook Chicken to Perfection

  • Heat olive oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat
  • Sauté chicken breasts for 6-8 minutes on each side
  • Confirm chicken is fully cooked by checking internal temperature reaches 165°F
  • Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate and set aside

Step 3: Create Aromatic Base

  • Add fresh olive oil to the same skillet
  • Sauté minced garlic and finely chopped onion
  • Cook for 1-2 minutes until ingredients release their fragrant aroma

Step 4: Develop Creamy Sauce

  • Pour chicken broth into skillet
  • Add coconut milk and fresh lemon juice
  • Whisk in arrowroot starch
  • Season with additional salt and black pepper
  • Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly

Step 5: Incorporate Vegetables

  • Gently fold in chopped artichoke hearts
  • Add fresh spinach leaves
  • Cook for 1-2 minutes until spinach wilts

Step 6: Combine and Finish Dish

  • Return chicken to skillet
  • Spoon creamy vegetable sauce over chicken
  • Sprinkle red pepper flakes for extra kick

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the chicken immediately and serve hot with your favorite side dish.

Tips for Creamy, Cheesy Skillet Chicken

  • Pat Chicken Dry: Use paper towels to remove excess moisture from chicken breasts, ensuring a perfect golden-brown sear and preventing steaming.
  • Choose Fresh Ingredients: Select firm, bright green spinach and firm artichoke hearts for the best flavor and texture in your skillet.
  • Control Sauce Thickness: Adjust arrowroot starch amount gradually to achieve your desired sauce consistency without creating lumps.
  • Prevent Overcooking Chicken: Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F for juicy, perfectly cooked chicken every time.
  • Maximize Flavor Depth: Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking to help redistribute juices and maintain tender, succulent meat.

How to Store and Reheat Chicken Skillet Leftovers

  • Refrigerate: Transfer chicken and sauce to an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Reheat: Gently warm in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying. Stir occasionally to distribute heat evenly and maintain sauce consistency.
  • Freeze: Cool completely, then place in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to preserve flavor and texture.

What Complements Spinach Artichoke Chicken

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: A chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio perfectly complements the creamy, herbal notes of the spinach artichoke chicken, cutting through the richness with its bright acidity.
  • Serve with Crusty Garlic Bread: Rustic sourdough or french bread will soak up the delicious sauce, adding a satisfying crunch and extra flavor dimension to the meal.
  • Match with Roasted Vegetable Salad: A light Mediterranean-style salad with roasted bell peppers, zucchini, and a lemon vinaigrette balances the skillet's creamy texture and provides a fresh, vibrant side dish.
  • Finish with Lemon Sorbet: A zesty, palate-cleansing lemon sorbet offers a refreshing end to the meal, echoing the citrusy notes in the chicken's sauce and providing a light, cool dessert option.

Skillet Recipe Tweaks You’ll Want to Try

  • Mediterranean Herb Chicken: Replace dried basil with fresh oregano and thyme, adding crumbled feta cheese on top for a Greek-inspired flavor profile.
  • Spicy Southwest Spin: Swap coconut milk with heavy cream, include diced green chiles, and sprinkle with cumin and chili powder for a zesty southwestern kick.
  • Creamy Mushroom Enhancement: Sauté sliced cremini mushrooms with garlic before adding the sauce, creating an earthy depth and extra texture to the original recipe.
  • Dairy-Rich Version: Incorporate cream cheese and grated parmesan into the sauce for a richer, more indulgent sauce that complements the chicken perfectly.
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Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet Recipe

Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet Recipe


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4.5 from 20 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Spinach artichoke chicken skillet blends creamy comfort with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Cheesy goodness meets lean protein in this quick, one-pan wonder that delivers restaurant-quality taste right from your kitchen.


Ingredients

Scale

Protein:

  • 4 small-medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 2 large halved)

Seasonings for Chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Fat:

  • 1 tablespoon ghee (or olive oil)

Sauce Base:

  • 1 tablespoon ghee (or olive oil)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 1 (13.5-ounce / 400 milliliters) can unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
  • ½ lemon, juiced

Thickening Agent:

  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch

Additional Seasonings:

  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Vegetables:

  • 1 (14-ounce / 400 grams) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
  • 2 cups packed spinach

Garnish:

  • Red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Craft a flavor profile for chicken breasts by generously coating them with dried basil, garlic powder, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Warm a skillet with ghee or olive oil over medium heat, creating a golden sear on each chicken breast. Cook thoroughly until internal temperature reaches perfection, approximately 6-8 minutes per side. Transfer cooked chicken to a holding plate.
  3. In the same skillet, introduce another drizzle of ghee or olive oil, carefully clearing any caramelized remnants. Gently sauté minced garlic and finely diced onion until their aromatic essence emerges, roughly 1-2 minutes.
  4. Construct a silky sauce by whisking together chicken broth, coconut milk, bright lemon juice, arrowroot starch, salt, and black pepper. Allow the mixture to gently simmer, transforming into a luxurious, thickened consistency within 2-3 minutes.
  5. Lower the heat and fold in tender artichoke hearts and fresh spinach leaves. Briefly cook until spinach gracefully wilts and integrates with the creamy sauce.
  6. Nestle the reserved chicken breasts back into the skillet, lovingly coating them with the vibrant spinach and artichoke infusion.
  7. Elevate the dish with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes, creating a final flourish of color and subtle heat. Serve immediately while the skillet remains piping hot.

Notes

  • Perfectly sear chicken breasts by ensuring the skillet is at medium heat for even, golden-brown exterior.
  • Create a silky, flavorful sauce by whisking ingredients thoroughly and allowing it to simmer and naturally thicken.
  • Quick weeknight dinner that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes.
  • Balance delicate flavors with a combination of tangy lemon, rich coconut milk, and aromatic herbs.
  • Gluten-free and low-carb option that delivers maximum taste with minimal preparation complexity.
  • Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and reheated gently to maintain sauce consistency and chicken tenderness.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 470
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 14g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 36g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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