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This baked Tuscan chicken is filled with a creamy mixture of spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and cream cheese, making it a flavorful and easy dinner in 30 minutes.
I love serving it with garlic butter noodles and a big Mediterranean Cobb salad to round out a full, delicious meal.

Tuscan Chicken Recipe
My husband has cooked his way through most of Diethood, but this creamy baked Tuscan chicken is the one he keeps coming back to. He makes it at least twice a month, and not because he has to, but because it’s just that good. It’s easy, loaded with cheesy comfort, and always comes out perfect (even when he skips measuring things 🙃).
Think of it like stuffed chicken, but with a Tuscan twist. Juicy boneless skinless chicken breasts are filled with a creamy mixture of fresh spinach, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and melty cream cheese, then baked to flavorful perfection for a dinner that’s both cozy and quick.
Why We Love This Baked Tuscan Chicken Recipe
- Creamy comfort food that feels fancy. The sauce is rich and velvety thanks to cream cheese, parmesan, and a touch of Italian seasoning. Chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach add bold flavor and that restaurant-style finish.
- Perfect for busy weeknights. This baked Tuscan chicken comes together quickly with no marinating, no long prep, and everything bakes up in about 25 minutes.
- Easy to pair with sides. Serve this chicken dinner with roasted green beans, garlic bread, pasta, or simply a glass of white wine.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts – I used boneless skinless chicken, but you can also use skinless chicken thighs for a richer flavor. You may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Olive Oil – Used to sauté the spinach and tomatoes. You can substitute with avocado oil or butter if you prefer.
- Fresh Garlic – Adds bold flavor to the filling. Garlic powder can be used instead.
- Chopped Sun-Dried Tomatoes – These bring a tangy, sweet contrast to the creamy sauce. Cherry tomatoes will also work.
- Fresh Spinach – I like to use baby spinach because it wilts quickly and blends well into the filling. Frozen spinach also works if it’s thawed and drained.
- Cream Cheese – Use whipped cream cheese because it melts easier. You could use regular cream cheese, but you’ll want to soften it before using. Goat cheese or feta cheese will also work for a slightly different flavor, and you can stir in shredded mozzarella for extra creaminess and stretch.
- Parmesan Cheese – Adds a sharp, salty flavor. Pecorino Romano is a good swap if that’s what you have.
- Italian Seasoning – A blend of basil, oregano, and thyme is also okay.
- Salt and Black Pepper – I use kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Totally optional, but I love the little kick. Chili powder can be used for a deeper, smokier flavor.
How To Make Baked Tuscan Chicken
You’ll love how easy this baked chicken comes together. The results are tender and moist chicken breasts with plenty of textures and savory flavors. You’re going to really enjoy it, I promise!
- Sauté the veggies. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach in a swirl of olive oil for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Make the creamy filling. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the cream cheese and parmesan cheese. Cook for about a minute, stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add red pepper flakes if you like a little kick.
- Prepare the chicken. Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut 5 to 6 slits across the top of the chicken breasts to make pockets, being careful not to cut all the way through. Then, season both sides of the chicken with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Stuff the chicken. Spoon the creamy spinach mixture into each pocket, pressing gently to fill them evenly. You can add a little mozzarella cheese on top if you’d like extra melt and stretch.
- Bake. Transfer the stuffed chicken to a baking dish and bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let it rest and serve. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley and enjoy with your favorite sides.
Katerina’s Recipe Tips
- Use thicker chicken breasts. Thicker cuts are easier to slice and stuff without breaking through the other side. You can also use chicken thighs, but the cooking time may vary slightly.
- Bring your cream cheese to room temperature. Softened cream cheese blends faster and smoother into the filling. If you’re using regular cream cheese (not whipped), give it 15 to 20 minutes on the counter before cooking.
- Don’t overstuff the chicken. Spoon the filling in gently so it stays tucked inside while baking. You want it melty, but not overflowing.
- Check the internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken reaches 165°F at the thickest part. This is the best way to avoid undercooked or dry chicken.
- Let it rest before slicing. After baking, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes so the juices settle and the cheese stays creamy instead of running out.
- Bake in a dish that holds the chicken snugly. A smaller baking dish or a large skillet helps keep the chicken upright and the filling in place while baking.
- Make it ahead. You can prepare the filling up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to cook, just cut some slits in the chicken, stuff it, and bake it as directed.
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Ingredients
FOR THE CREAMY STUFFING
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, you can also just use the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes jar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 4 ounces whipped cream cheese
FOR THE CHICKEN
- 4 (4-ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- chopped fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 375˚F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. *see notes
- Sauté. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Stir in spinach and sun-dried tomatoes; cook for 2 minutes, or until wilted. Stir frequently.
- Make the cheesy filling. Season the spinach and tomato mixture with Italian seasoning and stir in the cream cheese; cook for 1 minute, stirring until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and set aside for 2 minutes.
- Prep the chicken breasts. Cut 5 to 6 slits/pockets on top of each chicken breast and season with salt and pepper. DO NOT cut through – cut about 3/4 of the way down and keep the base of the chicken breasts intact.
- Stuff the pockets. Place the chicken breasts in the baking dish and fill each pocket of the chicken breasts with the cheesy spinach mixture.
- Bake. Transfer the chicken breasts to the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness – chicken is cooked at 165˚F. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Rest, then serve. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Equipment
Notes
- Skillet options: To minimize cleanup, use an oven-safe skillet for the spinach mixture, and use the same skillet to bake the chicken breasts.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator. Let the baked Tuscan chicken cool to room temperature, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer. I don’t recommend freezing this one since the creamy filling may separate once thawed, but if you must, wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat straight from frozen in a covered baking dish at 350°F.
- Reheat. Warm leftovers in a covered skillet over medium heat until heated through. You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F. Avoid the microwave if you want to keep the filling creamy.
To make for 6 or 7 would i just increase ingreds, by half again or double up?
Hi!
To make this for 6 or 7 servings, youโll want to increase the ingredients proportionally. Since the recipe serves 4, increasing by half again should work perfectly for 6, and doubling the recipe will cover 7 or 8.
Love!
Can you freeze it to eat later?
I like to meal prep on the weekends and this resipe sounds amazing.
Hi!
Sure, but from experience, the texture of the cheese and sundried tomatoes does change when thawed out. Not a big deal, but taste/texture will be a bit different than intended.
My family loves this chicken! Iโve made it over half a dozen times and get rave reviews every time. I donโt change a thing and appreciate how easy it is. Itโs a staple go-to! (Itโs whatโs for dinner tonight, FYI!)
Oh that is awesome!! Thank you so much! โบ๏ธ Very happy to hear that you all enjoyed it!!
I made this last night and was in awe of the flavor and juciness of the chicken. I had to cook it an additional 10 minutes though. Very easy to make as well!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Sounds delicious … I think a roll up with a pounded chicken breast would work too, adding the topping to the filling in the roll.
What a delicious looking recipe! Cant wait to give this chicken a try!!
This was a hit all around the dinner table last night! I think I will make it again tonight; so much flavor!
sundried tomatoes and chicken are my jam!! thanks for the recipe
Oh this is SOOOOOOO delicious! We make it regularly!
This recipe is a keeper! Turns out great every time.