Creamy Cajun Chicken Skillet

Three seared Cajun-seasoned chicken breasts topped with a creamy sauce in a large silver skillet.

Creamy Cajun Chicken Skillet

This flavorful one-pan entrée features tender, juicy, Cajun-seasoned chicken in a rich & creamy sauce. Ready in 30 minutes, it goes well with your choice of mashed potatoes, rice, cauliflower, or pasta.

Prep: 15

Cook: 30

Total: 45

Yield:4 servings

Equipment

Cutting board
Large skillet
Tongs
internal meat thermometer
Large plate
Large wooden spoon

Ingredients

For the Chicken

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts approximately 8-10 ounces each
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning plus more to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil avocado oil, olive oil, etc.

For the Cream Sauce

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup holy trinity ⅓ cup each chopped white onion, chopped celery, and chopped green bell pepper; fresh or frozen
4 cloves garlic peeled, minced
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper more or less to taste
¼ cup dry white wine or ¼ low-sodium chicken stock
½ cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream at room temperature
salt to taste

Instructions

Place 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts on cutting board. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning over chicken breasts on both sides, adding more seasoning to taste.
Place large skillet on stovetop over medium-high heat. When skillet is warm, add 1 tablespoon neutral oil and tilt or swirl pan to distribute oil across entire surface. Continue heating skillet until oil is hot and shimmery.
When oil is ready, place seasoned chicken breasts in skillet. Sear chicken 3 to 5 minutes or until golden.
Flip chicken over and sear 3 to 5 minutes on other side, or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 162° Fahrenheit. Once chicken reaches target internal temperature, transfer chicken to plate and set aside.
Return skillet to stovetop and reduce heat to medium, then add 2 tablespoons unsalted butter. Let butter melt, swirling and tilting pan occasionally to distribute butter across surface.
Once butter has melted, add 1 cup holy trinity. Stir to incorporate, then sauté onions, celery, and bell pepper 5 minutes or until vegetables are softened and onions are translucent.
Add 4 cloves garlic and stir to incorporate. Sauté garlic 30 to 60 seconds or until fragrant. Once garlic is fragrant, add 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper and stir to incorporate.
Pour ¼ cup dry white wine into skillet and stir, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits of food that may have stuck to surface. Once pan is deglazed, raise heat to medium-high and bring liquid to boil.
Once liquid begins to boil, immediately reduce heat to medium-low. Let mixture simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until liquid has reduced by approximately 50%.
Add ½ cup low-sodium chicken stock and stir to incorporate, then let mixture simmer until liquid has reduced by approximately 25%.
Reduce heat under skillet to low. Remove skillet from heat and let cool slightly, then slowly pour in 1 cup heavy cream (at room temperature). Stir to incorporate cream, then return skillet to stovetop over low heat.
Add salt to taste and stir to incorporate, then return chicken breasts to skillet. Spoon sauce over tops of chicken breasts.
Transfer chicken to serving plates with mashed potatoes, cauliflower, rice, pasta, or zoodles. Spoon remaining sauce over chicken and serve immediately.

Notes

Chicken: Be sure to use chicken breasts (or chicken thighs) that are roughly the same size and thickness, otherwise they'll cook at different rates.
Dry White Wine: I recommend Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.
Make it Alcohol Free: Replace the wine with ¼ cup chicken stock.
Make it Dairy Free: Use a plant-based butter and replace the heavy cream with full-fat, unsweetened coconut cream (from a can).
Make it Gluten Free: Double-check that your chicken stock is 100% gluten free.

Nutrition

Recipe By:Cheryl Malik