Mozzarella Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce Recipe
This Mozzarella Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce is a rich and flavorful dish featuring tender, pan-seared chicken breasts smothered in a creamy basil-infused sauce with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a comforting dinner, it pairs beautifully with pasta or roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients. Start by finely chopping the garlic cloves and fresh basil leaves so they are ready to incorporate into the sauce.
- Cook Chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook each side for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Make Cream Sauce. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring well. Add the Italian seasoning and chopped basil. Let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens slightly.
- Combine and Melt Cheese. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet with the sauce. Top each breast evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet and cook on low heat for approximately 5 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly.
- Serve. Plate the mozzarella chicken and spoon over the creamy basil sauce. Serve warm alongside your choice of pasta or roasted vegetables for a balanced meal.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half but the sauce will be less rich.
- Using low-sodium chicken broth helps control the overall saltiness.
- Fresh basil gives the dish vibrant flavor; dried basil can be used but reduce quantity to 1 tablespoon.
- Covering the skillet when melting cheese helps it melt evenly without drying out the chicken.
- Ensure chicken is cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Keywords: mozzarella chicken, basil cream sauce, creamy chicken recipe, skillet chicken, Italian chicken dinner
