Creamy Tuscan Chicken, Restaurant-Style Garlic Bread & A Fresh Apple Salad – Valentine’s Dinner Inspiration
Looking for the perfect Valentine's dinner that's romantic, impressive, and totally doable at home? This three-part meal features a luscious Creamy Tuscan Chicken cooked in a garlic-herb wine sauce, buttery restaurant-style garlic bread, and a crisp apple pecan salad with blue cheese and a honey-cider dressing. Whether you’re celebrating with your partner or treating yourself, this dinner will have everyone swooning. Let’s get cooking!
Video
Equipment
- 1 Skillet For cooking Tuscan chicken
- 1 Wooden spoon For stirring and deglazing
- 1 Foil To wrap bread
- 1 Mixing bowl For salad and garlic butter
- 1 Small jar/whisk For salad dressing
Ingredients
For the Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 4 oz chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small bunch basil & oregano chopped (or 1 tsp Italian seasoning)
- ¾ cup white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 2–3 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
For the Garlic Bread
- 1 loaf French bread
- 1 stick salted butter softened
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 small bunch parsley chopped
- ¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
For the Fresh Apple Salad
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup arugula
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
- ¼ cup honey-roasted pecans
Salad Dressing
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Heat a deep skillet over medium-high and coat with oil.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Sear 5 minutes on each side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter with a drizzle of olive oil. Add onions and cook until translucent.
- Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; cook 2 minutes.
- Stir in herbs or seasoning. Deglaze with white wine and let reduce slightly.
- Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Pour in heavy cream and tomato paste (if using). Stir until thickened.
- Add spinach; let wilt. Stir in parmesan.
- Return chicken to skillet. Cover and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Restaurant-Style Garlic Bread
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Slice the French bread into thick pieces without cutting all the way through.
- Mix softened butter with garlic and chopped parsley.
- Spread mixture between slices.
- Wrap loaf in foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Unwrap, spread more butter on top, sprinkle parmesan, and bake uncovered for 5 more minutes.
- Serve warm.
Fresh Apple Salad
- In a large bowl, toss spinach, arugula, sliced apple, red onion, blue cheese, and pecans.
- In a jar or small bowl, whisk honey and apple cider vinegar.
- Drizzle dressing over salad before serving.
Notes
This video and the recipe provided and produced by Marcy Inspired.
