Chicken Breasts In Balsamic Cream Sauce


Looking for a Valentine's Day Dinner idea?  Light the candles and pour the wine!  This chicken reminds me of something that might be served in a fancy restaurant but you can make it at home with just a few ingredients and 20 minutes.  I like to serve this with long grain and wild rice mix and steamed asparagus.

Yield: 4
Author: Mary

Chicken Breasts in Balsamic Cream Sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 11/2  tsp minced garlic 
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1⁄2 cup chicken broth
  • 1⁄2 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Pound chicken breasts down to even thickness; season chicken with salt and pepper.
  3. Add breasts to skillet and cook for 5 minutes, undisturbed. Flip chicken breasts over; add 1 tablespoon butter and continue to cook for 4 to 5 more minutes, until internal temperature reaches 165˚F.
  4. Remove chicken breasts from skillet and set aside; keep them covered.
  5. Add remaining butter to the skillet. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Stir in Italian seasoning and balsamic vinegar; cook for 2 minutes.  Stir in the chicken broth; scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.  Increase the heat to High and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced a bit.
  6. Lower heat to medium and whisk in the cream; whisking continually for about 30 seconds.  You don't want the sauce to boil.
  7. Add the chicken breasts back to the skillet. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or just until chicken is heated through.  Remove from heat. Sauce will thicken as it stands.