Foodie Friday: This Chicken in Creamy Mushroom Sauce really is so good, so elegant, yet simple, quick and easy all at the same time. You are going to fall in love with this chicken!

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Servings: 2-4

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts sliced horizontally or 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 280 grams mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons basil pesto
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup half and half or heavy cream, optional*
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth, divided
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon +1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 4-6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

Method:

  1. Rinse and pat chicken dry then season with 1/2-teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Heat 1-tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Once very hot, add chicken and cook 2-3 minutes or until golden, flip, cover, and reduce heat to medium. Continue to cook 4-7 minutes (depending on thickness) or until chicken is cooked through. Transfer to plate.
  2. Reduce heat to medium and melt 1-tablespoon butter in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add mushrooms, and cook, stirring often, for 4 minutes then add shallots, pesto, oregano and thyme and cook another 3 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, cream or half and half (optional), Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar. Whisk corn starch with remaining 1/2 cup chicken broth and add to skillet. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally until sauce has thickened. Add chicken back to skillet, stir in half the bacon and leave the rest to garnish.
  4. Garnish with remaining bacon. Freshly grated Parmesan (highly recommended) and fresh parsley. Serve with/over noodles, potatoes or rice.

Notes: *This sauce is still wonderfully flavourful without the half and half/heavy cream so if you want to save calories you can definitely skip it – but if you want to add some extra creaminess, its divine!

Source: Carlsbadcravings.com