Chicken Breast in Creamy Mushroom Sauce
- 3 tbsp olive oil - divided
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 2.5lbs - butterflied and split to make 6 thin halves
- 1/2 small yellow onion - finely diced
- 8 oz white button mushrooms - cleaned and sliced (shortcut, buy pre-sliced)
- 1 clove garlic - minced
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 1/4 cup unsalted or low sodium beef broth or stock
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp fresh grated parmigiano reggiano (just parmesan is fine, but use fresh grated for best texture)
- First thing, prep your onions, mushrooms and garlic.
- Set aside.
- To split chicken breasts: lay breast flat on clean cutting board, find the halfway point between top and bottom.
- Using a very sharp knife, carefully cut horizontally through the breast as if you would a butterfly cut.
- Instead of stopping when you reach the other side, finish cutting all the way through to completely split top and bottom.
- Repeat with remaining breasts so you have 6 thin breast pieces.
- Season both sides of breast pieces with desired amounts of salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders.
- Heat a large, deep sided saute pan over medium heat.
- When hot (a drop of water "sizzles") add 2 tbs olive oil and swirl to coat.
- Add chicken breasts to hot pan, arranged so they will all fit flat but not overlapping.
- Cook On the first side, untouched, for 5 minutes to get a nice, browned sear.
- When first side is done breasts will "release" from the pan easily.
- Flip each breast to sear second side and finish cooking, about 5 minutes more, again untouched for best sear.
- Remove to plate, tent with foil to keep warm and set aside.
- Add onion to hot pan and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Add sliced mushrooms, sprinkle minced garlic, thyme and a pinch of s&p on top, then drizzle with remaining 1tbs olive oil.
- Stir to combine everything.
- Cook until mushrooms begin to exude their juices and shrink down, stirring frequently and scraping up brown bits that have been stuck to pan.
- About 5 - 7 minutes more.
- Add beef broth.
- Increase heat to medium high to bring to a boil until broth has reduced slightly (not quite by half) about 5 - 7 minutes again.
- No need to stir more than a couple times here.
- Reduce heat to medium low.
- Add heavy cream and stir to incorporate fully.
- Simmer some more until sauce begins to thicken.
- Again, this took about 5 minutes for me.
- Stir in freshly grated cheese until melted into sauce, this will also help thicken some more.
- Return chicken breasts to pan, turn to coat in sauce.
- Turn heat to low, cover and let sit 5 minutes to warm chicken through.
- Serve with sauce drizzled on top and a crisp side salad for a lower carb option, or any other desired sides.
- Enjoy!
olive oil, chicken breasts, onion, white button mushrooms, garlic, thyme, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, heavy cream
Taken from cookpad.com/us/recipes/367982-chicken-breast-in-creamy-mushroom-sauce (may not work)