Paleo Tuscan Chicken Is So Creamy You Won’t Believe It’s Dairy-Free
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Finding an easy weeknight meal that is not boring and cooks in one pan in 30 minutes or less is difficult enough without any dietary restrictions to worry about. If you’re also looking for something Paleo- and keto-friendly or Whole30-compliant, figuring out what to eat for dinner can take a lot a lot of research and brain power. This Tuscan chicken one-skillet meal satisfies all those requirements, and it also comes in a creamy, sun-dried-tomato-filled sauce that’s pure comfort food.
Start by seasoning the chicken generously with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic, and onion powder. You could use chicken breasts if you prefer, but the author strongly encourages everybody to stick with boneless, skinless chicken thighs on the grounds that they are juicier, more flavorful, and develop a nice, crispy crust much better than chicken breasts do. Whichever cut you choose, cook the chicken in coconut oil on medium-high heat for about five minutes on each side, or until it is browned and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
To make the sauce, start by cooking chopped onions and garlic in the leftover oil and browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Then whisk in tapioca or arrowroot as a thickener, and add chicken bone broth and coconut milk. The coconut milk gives the sauce creaminess, and the tapioca thickens it, and when those combine you get a really nice dairy-free cream sauce. The author also adds some stone-ground mustard and a tablespoon and a half of nutritional yeast, which add a great, savory, umami flavor that really minimizes the taste of the coconut so it’s barely perceptible.
Once the sauce thickens, add sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach and let it simmer until the spinach wilts, then put the chicken back in the sauce and let it simmer another couple minutes, then serve it with your favorite side. You could use cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles, or regular rice and noodles depending on your diet. It’d also be great with roasted or mashed potatoes and a side of cauliflower.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken from Paleo Running Momma
