Chicken Florentine

Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 servings

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This Chicken Florentine is a quick, yet decadent dinner! Tender and juicy chicken breasts are simmered with spinach, garlic, and seasonings in a rich, flavorful cream sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes!

Looking for more easy chicken breast recipes? Try my Marry Me Chicken Breast, these Baked Tuscan Chicken Breasts, or this Creamy Garlic Chicken Breast.

overhead image of four chicken breasts in pan with florentine sauce

I don’t know about you, but Chicken Florentine to me sounds like a super fancy meal that a cook would spend a ton of time on. Right?

Wrong. 😉 If there is one thing I love, it’s a dinner recipe that looks and sounds like you spent a lot of time on it but it’s actually really easy to make.

This Chicken Florentine recipe is definitely one of those meals.

This chicken dinner consists of perfectly golden-brown and tender chicken breasts, a deliciously rich and creamy sauce, fresh spinach and garlic, and simple yet flavorful seasonings…and it all comes together in a total of 20 minutes.

close up image of chicken breast in black skillet with sauce being poured over

Love easy dinners as much as I do? Check out more of my Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas or Easy Chicken Breast Recipes!

Ingredients needed for Chicken Florentine:

  • Chicken Breast: you’ll need two boneless and skinless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise (so they are thinner) for quicker cooking.
  • Salt and Pepper: used to season the chicken.
  • Oil: you can use whatever oil you have on hand to brown the chicken. I usually use canola oil, but any oil with a high smoke point will work.
  • Butter: I use salted butter. Unsalted will work as well, but you may need to add more salt to the final dish.
  • Garlic: use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
  • Italian Seasoning, Salt, and Pepper: gives the sauce those classic Italian flavors.
  • Flour: helps create a thicker texture.
  • White Wine: if you prefer not to use wine, you can sub it out for an equal amount of chicken or vegetable broth.
  • Chicken Broth: creates a flavorful base for the cream sauce.
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: you can use half-and-half or a light cream if preferred, but the sauce won’t be as rich and creamy.
  • Spinach: I always use fresh spinach for the best texture and flavor, but if all you have is frozen spinach that will work as well. Make sure you thaw and drain well before adding!
  • Parmesan Cheese: I recommend grating your own parmesan for the best texture.
ingredients needed to make chicken florentine
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How to make Chicken Florentine

Chicken Florentine looks fancy, but is ready in a total of 25 minutes!

  1. Brown the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts in half the long way so that you have two thin pieces of chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet, then add in the chicken and cook until golden-brown on both sides. Remove and set aside.
  2. Make the roux: In the same skillet, melt the butter then add in garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in the flour, whisking until smooth.
  3. Make the sauce: Add wine, broth, and cream. Bring to a simmer and cook until starting to thicken. Stir in the spinach and parmesan, then add the chicken back to the pan. Cover and cook on medium-low until the chicken is cooked through.

Chicken Florentine FAQs

What does Florentine mean?

In cooking, Florentine refers to dishes that are cooked in the style of Florence, Italy. Spinach is a common ingredient in “Florentine” dishes, so Chicken Florentine features chicken that’s cooked with fresh spinach in a rich cream sauce!

What is Florentine sauce made of?

Traditional Florentine sauce is a simple mixture of heavy cream, white wine, butter, parmesan, and fresh spinach. It’s simple, yet decadent—and perfect with chicken!

How do I know if my chicken breasts are done?

Chicken breasts need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. The best way to know if they are cooked through is to use a meat thermometer.

How do you store Chicken Florentine?

Leftover chicken Florentine will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then warm on low on the stove until heated through.

chicken florentine chicken breast with sauce over pappardelle

Tips and tricks:

  • Slice the chicken. Be sure you slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise so you have thinner pieces of chicken. They cook more quickly and evenly that way!
  • Don’t touch! While you’re browning the chicken on each side, leave it alone. This is how you achieve that crispy, golden-brown exterior. After 4-5 minutes, give it a little shove. If it moves easily, it’s ready to be flipped. If it sticks, it’s not ready to be flipped yet.
  • Add more veggies. If you want to kick the nutrition of this dish up a notch, you can definitely add in more veggies. I recommend cooking them when you cook the seasonings. Try adding carrots, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, red onion, zucchini, etc.
  • Spice it up. If you love a kick of heat, try adding cayenne or red pepper flakes.

Serving suggestions

You can serve this Chicken Florentine on its own OR serve it over a bed of rice, pasta, or a pile of mashed potatoes.

You can also fill out your meal with a couple simple sides. Try roasted veggies, dinner rolls, garlic parmesan orzo pasta, roasted potatoes, or a simple green salad.

More creamy chicken recipes you’ll love

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Chicken Florentine recipe

5 from 14 votes
This Chicken Florentine is a quick, yet decadent dinner! Tender and juicy chicken breasts are simmered with spinach, garlic, and seasonings in a rich, flavorful cream sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cuisine American, Italian
Course Main Course
Servings 4 servings
Calories 304cal

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 3 cloves fresh minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ½ cup dry white wine (can sub with chicken or vegetable broth)
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Halve chicken breasts the long way, so that you have two thin pieces of chicken breast (see video for a visual). Season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and brown on both sides until golden brown (about 4-5 minutes per side), working in batches if necessary.
  • Remove chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
  • Add butter to the skillet and melt. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute.
  • Stir in flour until no white remains.
  • Add wine, broth, and cream. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until slightly thickened, scraping the bottom to loosen any browned bits if necessary.
  • Stir in the spinach and Parmesan and return chicken to the pan.
  • Cover and reduce heat to medium-low and allow to heat through. Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Notes

Tips:
  • Slice the chicken. Be sure you slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise so you have thinner pieces of chicken. They cook more quickly and evenly that way!
  • Don’t touch! While you’re browning the chicken on each side, leave it alone. This is how you achieve that crispy, golden-brown exterior. After 4-5 minutes, give it a little shove. If it moves easily, it’s ready to be flipped. If it sticks, it’s not ready to be flipped yet.
 
Storage:
Leftover chicken Florentine will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw in the fridge if frozen then warm on low on the stove until heated through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 304cal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 272mg | Potassium: 361mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1970IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg
Keywords chicken florentine

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Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. L says

    How could i turn this into a crockpot meal? Would that be possible? We rely on crockpot meals during our kids football season and id love to try this but don’t have the time to fully prepare!

  2. Harry says

    I recently discovered this recipe, which has now become our ‘go-to’ meal when family drops in (just before dinner !?). Quick, easy and so tasty.

  3. Sheila says

    Can i substitute half n half for the heavy cream.. will it matter? If so, could i add a bit of cream cheese or sour cream to thicken it back up then? The store was out of heavy cream n i really want to make this. Lol

    • Sheila says

      Well.. i couldnt wait for your answer lol.. i was hungry. so i did use the half n half..added an xtra Tbsp of flour to the rue..it was fabulous. Such a simple dish to make, but delicious! The elegance is all there.. its pretty on the plate too.

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Sheila! you can use half-and-half or a light cream if preferred, but the sauce won’t be as rich and creamy. Adding anything else to it would change the end result. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it turns out!

  4. Stephanie says

    It was a hit! Everyone loved this! It took me a closer to 35 or 40 min but I’m not quick in the kitchen. Still not bad though!

  5. Gary G says

    “Leftover Chicken” Florentine will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days”….
    Not in my house it wouldn’t!!! You don’t know the scavengers that live here. It might last for an hour or two. – Tops.

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