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Mozzarella chicken in basil cream sauce in a skillet with melted cheese and fresh basil garnish

Mozzarella Chicken in Basil Cream Sauce

Tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy basil sauce loaded with melted mozzarella and Parmesan. A fast, family-friendly skillet dinner ready in 40 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth low-sodium recommended
  • 1 cup heavy cream full-fat for best results
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese freshly shredded from a block
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1.5 tsp dried basil or 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Meat thermometer
  • Paper towels

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering, add chicken and sear 5 to 6 minutes per side until deep golden brown. Set aside on a plate. Chicken does not need to be fully cooked through at this stage.
  3. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let it brown.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle simmer for 2 minutes.
  5. Stir in heavy cream and warm for 2 minutes. Add Parmesan and mozzarella, stirring steadily until fully melted and smooth. Stir in basil.
  6. Return seared chicken to the skillet, turning to coat in the sauce. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 10 to 12 minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees F internally and sauce has thickened slightly. Serve hot with generous sauce spooned over the top.

Notes

For more even cooking, slice thick chicken breasts horizontally into cutlets before searing. Freshly shredded mozzarella melts significantly smoother than pre-shredded. Add fresh basil at the very end of cooking to preserve its bright flavor. Can sear chicken and prep sauce a few hours ahead, then reheat gently together over low heat.