Creamy Dijon Chicken

Take dinner to the next level with this Creamy Dijon Chicken recipe! Made with an insanely delicious sauce and simple ingredients!

The post Creamy Dijon Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Get ready friends, because Dijon is having a moment! This Creamy Dijon Chicken starts with quick pan-seared chicken breasts that get covered with a creamy, luscious, Dijon mustard sauce. It’s one of those recipes that feels luxurious and expensive, but is really made with simple inexpensive ingredients. And my secret ingredient to making it extra special…just a hint of Worcestershire sauce. This Dijon chicken recipe is so delicious and guaranteed to be one the whole family enjoys!

Overhead view of creamy dijon chicken in a skillet.

Ingredients For Creamy Dijon Chicken

This recipe uses one of my favorite ingredient combinations: Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. And when they’re combined with a little bit of heavy cream and parmesan cheese, it creates the most delicious sauce! So here’s everything that you’ll need:

  • Chicken Breasts: Chicken breasts are my usual go-to for recipes like these, but you can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead.
  • Garlic: Just a couple of garlic cloves infuses the sauce with lots of flavor. 
  • Olive Oil and Butter: Olive oil is used to cook the chicken breasts and a little butter is used to sauté the garlic.
  • Dijon Mustard and Worcestershire: Dijon mustard is of course the star of the show. Both Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce give the sauce the bulk of its flavor. The tanginess from the Dijon mixed with the savory umami flavor of the Worcestershire is a match made in heaven!
  • Chicken Broth: Chicken broth is used to help deglaze the pan, scrape up all of those flavorful brown bits, and is the base for the sauce.
  • Heavy Cream and Parmesan Cheese: Just a little bit of heavy cream and parmesan cheese thickens the sauce and adds a luscious, creamy, rich flavor.
  • Spinach: I added some spinach for extra greens and a little bit of color.
  • Seasoning: The chicken breasts are seasoned with a blend of salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and onion powder. This way every component of this dish is packed with flavor!

Can I Substitute Yellow Mustard For Dijon Mustard?

I don’t recommend substituting Dijon mustard with yellow mustard. Dijon mustard has a more intense, sharp flavor that goes well with sauces compared to yellow mustard that has a milder, less complex flavor.

Not A Mustard Fan?

I get it. But trust me this recipe is not super mustard-y and the flavors are balanced nicely. I tested this recipe a few times with different amounts of Dijon mustard. And I ended up with what I feel is the perfect combination. It’s just enough to taste the tangy, warm flavors of the Dijon, but not too much to where it overpowers the dish. You can always taste the sauce and add a little more mustard if you want a stronger Dijon taste.

Serving Suggestions

We served this creamy dijon chicken over some fluffy mashed potatoes to soak up all of that delicious sauce. But you can also serve it with some buttered noodles, pasta, or over rice. A simple side salad or Caesar salad would also taste great. And you can never go wrong with a side of quick sautéed vegetables like this easy sautéed asparagus recipe.

Side close up view of creamy dijon chicken in a skillet.
Overhead close up view of creamy dijon chicken in a skillet.
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Creamy Dijon Chicken

Take dinner to the next level with this Creamy Dijon Chicken recipe! Made with an insanely delicious sauce and simple ingredients!
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Total Cost $9.35 recipe / $2.33 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 271kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning $0.10
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 1.3 lb.) $6.49
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32
  • 2 Tbsp butter $0.27
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced $0.16
  • 1 cup chicken broth $0.17
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard $0.04
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce $0.05
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream $0.65
  • 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese $0.20
  • 2 cups spinach $0.76

Instructions

  • In a small bowl mix together the seasoning for the chicken: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  • Using a sharp knife, carefully fillet each chicken breast into two thinner cutlets. Season each breast with the seasoning mix on both sides.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through (about 4 minutes per side). Remove the cooked chicken to a clean plate and cover to keep warm.
  • To the same skillet add the butter and minced garlic cloves. Turn the heat down to medium-low and sauté the garlic for one minute until fragrant.
  • Next pour the chicken broth into the skillet and add the Dijon mustard and worcestershire sauce. Stir together and scrape up any brown bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan.
  • Now add in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese and stir well. Allow the sauce to simmer in the skillet for 5 minutes. Taste the sauce at this point and add salt and pepper if desired.
  • Add in the fresh spinach and stir it into the sauce allowing the heat to wilt the spinach.
  • Finally, return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the Dijon sauce over top. Allow the chicken to heat through. Serve hot with your favorite side and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Sodium: 742mg | Fiber: 1g
Creamy dijon chicken on a plate with mashed potatoes.

How to Make Creamy Dijon Chicken – Step by Step Photos

Seasoning mix in a bowl.

In a small bowl mix together 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper.

Seasoned chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Using a sharp knife, carefully fillet each chicken breast into two thinner cutlets. Season each breast with the seasoning mix on both sides.

Cooked chicken breasts in a large skillet.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook on each side until golden brown and cooked through (about 4 minutes per side). Remove the cooked chicken to a clean plate and cover to keep warm.

Butter and garlic added to large skillet.

To the same skillet add 2 Tbsp butter and 2 minced garlic cloves. Turn the heat down to medium-low and sauté the garlic for one minute until fragrant.

Chicken broth, dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce added to skillet.

Next pour 1 cup chicken broth into the skillet and add 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard and 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce. Stir together and scrape up any brown bits that may be stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Cream and parmesan cheese added to skillet.

Now add in 1/3 cup heavy cream and 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese and stir well. Allow the sauce to simmer in the skillet for 5 minutes. Taste the sauce at this point and add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.

Spinach added to skillet.

Add in 2 cups of fresh spinach and stir it into the sauce allowing the heat to wilt the spinach.

Finished creamy dijon chicken in skillet.

Finally, return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the Dijon sauce over top. Allow the chicken to heat through.

Creamy dijon chicken on a plate with mashed potatoes and a fork lifting some chicken off the plate.

Now all that’s left to do is serve this delicious Dijon chicken with some creamy mashed potatoes, pasta, or your favorite side. And don’t forget to spoon some of that yummy sauce over the top! ;)

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Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is the ultimate comfort food– crispy, saucy chicken topped with melty cheese! So easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit.

The post Chicken Parmesan appeared first on Budget Bytes.

When I think of comfort food, I always think of chicken parmesan. It’s everything I want in a cozy meal– crispy, saucy chicken topped with melty cheese! This one-pan chicken parmesan recipe is so easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit. Served over spaghetti and topped with a healthy dose of parmesan cheese, it’s a recipe I come back to time and time again.

overhead view of 4 fried chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce, melted cheese, and parsley in a stainless skillet.

What Is Chicken Parmesan?

You’ll probably recognize Chicken Parmesan as a dish from every American-Italian restaurant menu. It is a dish that consists of breaded chicken breast covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, parmesan, or even provolone cheese.

Ingredients Needed

Here’s what you’ll need to make chicken parmesan:

  • Chicken Breasts: You’ll need 2 large chicken breasts for this recipe because each chicken breast will be sliced into 2 cutlets for 4 servings.
  • Breadcrumbs: We’re using plain breadcrumbs so we can season them to our liking and create a crispy breading on the chicken.
  • Grated Parmesan: You can use pre-grated or grate your own parmesan.
  • Seasonings: Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper season the chicken as well as the bread crumbs.
  • Egg: Egg helps adhere the breading to the chicken.
  • All-Purpose Flour: A bit of flour helps to thicken the sauce.
  • Cooking Oil: Any neutral oil that you like to cook with is fine.
  • Marinara Sauce: We like using our Homemade Marinara Sauce! But your favorite jarred sauce would work just fine.
  • Mozzarella Cheese: We used pre-shredded, but you’re welcome to shred your own! Low moisture, whole-milk mozzarella will work best here, as fresh mozzarella has a bit too much moisture. You can even use provolone cheese if you like.
  • Fresh Parsley: Totally optional, but it does add a lovely freshness at the end!

What To Serve With Chicken Parmesan

We recommend serving Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti marinara and a simple mixed greens salad. You can use store bought or our Homemade Marinara! You could also serve with Lemon Parsley Pasta and Homemade Garlic Bread.

Recipe Tips and Notes

  • Most chicken parmesan recipes will have you crisp up the chicken in a pan and then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking and melt the cheese. In this recipe, everything is done in the skillet to save time and clean up!
  • Make sure your pan is big enough to accommodate all of the chicken pieces (we used a 12-inch skillet) and you’ll need a lid that will fit the pan in order to melt the cheese and warm the marinara.
  • If you don’t have a lid or something to tent the pan with (tin foil should work as well!) You can transfer to a baking sheet lined with a rack and bake at 375°F for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
  • You’re welcome to warm up your marinara sauce before adding it to the chicken, but I find that it warms up enough while the cheese is melting.
overhead view of a serving of chicken parmesan over spaghetti with a side salad on a white plate.
overhead view of 4 fried chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce, melted cheese, and parsley in a stainless skillet.
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Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is the ultimate comfort food– crispy, saucy chicken topped with melty cheese! So easy to make and guaranteed to be a hit.
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Total Cost $10.61 recipe / $2.65 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 570kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 1.5 lbs) $6.75
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs $0.60
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese $0.67
  • 1 tsp garlic powder $0.10
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning $0.10
  • 1 tsp salt $0.05
  • Freshly cracked pepper $0.02
  • 1 egg $0.17
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour $0.10
  • 1/4 cup cooking oil $0.15
  • 1/2 cup marinara sauce $0.35
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella $1.25
  • 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley, optional $0.30

Instructions

  • Use a sharp knife to carefully filet the chicken breasts lengthwise into two cutlets, making 4 cutlets total. You can also use pre-cut chicken cutlets.
  • Lightly season both sides of the chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
  • In a wide shallow bowl or container, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper.
  • In a separate wide shallow bowl or container, whisk the egg until smooth.
  • In a third shallow bowl, add the flour.
  • Dredge each piece of chicken into the flour, dusting off any excess. Then, dip in the egg mixture, making sure to fully coat the chicken and dripping off any excess. Finally, dip the chicken in the seasoned bread crumbs, again coating well on both sides.
  • Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet and oil are very hot, add the chicken and cook on the first side until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken and turn the heat down to medium. Top each cutlet with 2 tbsp of marinara sauce and ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Place a lid on the skillet to allow the cheese to fully melt, the marinara sauce to warm up, and the chicken to cook all the way through, about 5-7 more minutes.
  • Top the chicken with fresh chopped parsley (optional) and serve with spaghetti and additional marinara.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 29g | Sodium: 1402mg | Fiber: 2g
close up overhead view of a serving of chicken parmesan over spaghetti with a side salad on a white plate.

how to make Chicken Parmesan – step by step photos

4 seasoned chicken breasts on an orange cutting board.

Use a sharp knife to carefully filet 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts lengthwise into two cutlets, making 4 cutlets total. You can also use pre-cut chicken cutlets. Lightly season both sides of the chicken with a pinch of salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

an egg, flour, and seasoned breadcrumbs in separate white bowls.

In a wide shallow bowl or container, combine 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1/3 cup grated parmesan, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and some freshly cracked pepper. In a separate wide shallow bowl or container, whisk 1 egg until smooth. In a third shallow bowl, add 1/2 cup all-purpose flour.

dredging a chicken breast through egg, flour, and breadcrumbs in separate bowls.

Dredge each piece of chicken into the flour, dusting off any excess. Then, dip in the egg mixture, making sure to fully coat the chicken and dripping off any excess. Finally, dip the chicken in the seasoned bread crumbs, again coating well on both sides.

4 fried chicken breasts in a stainless skillet.

Heat 1/4 cup cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet and oil are very hot, add the chicken and cook on the first side until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

4 fried chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and shredded cheese in a stainless skillet.

Flip the chicken and turn the heat down to medium. Top each cutlet with 2 tbsp of marinara sauce and 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Place a lid on the skillet to allow the cheese to fully melt, the marinara sauce to warm up, and the chicken to cook all the way through, about 5-7 more minutes.

parsley topped fried chicken breasts with marinara sauce and melted cheese in a stainless skillet.

Top the chicken with 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley (optional) and serve with spaghetti and additional marinara.

side view of a sliced serving of chicken parmesan on a bed of spaghetti with a side salad.

This chicken parmesan is the ultimate comfort meal!

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Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This juicy, tender, Air Fryer Chicken Breast is super flavorful and ready in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for meal prepping!

The post Air Fryer Chicken Breast appeared first on Budget Bytes.

I’m sure by now we all know that the air fryer makes life just a little bit easier, so if you’re looking for a simple way to cook chicken breasts, then you can’t miss with this easy Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe. I happen to love chicken breasts and I cook them quite often, so being able to cook juicy, tender, and super flavorful chicken breasts in less than 20 minutes is a huge win for me! These air fryer chicken breasts are also great for meal prep. You can cook them at the beginning of the week, slice them up, then store them in meal prep containers along with your favorite sides. Because chicken breasts are so versatile, this is simply a great recipe to keep in your back pocket!

Cooked overhead view of Air Fryer Chicken Breasts in an air fryer basket.

Ingredients For Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Here are the ingredients we used to make these flavorful air fryer chicken breasts:

  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast: We were able to fit two boneless, skinless chicken breasts that were roughly 2/3 lb. each into our 5-quart air fryer with plenty of room on the sides for air to circulate. If chicken thighs are more your style, then you’ll love our Air Fryer Chicken Thighs recipe!
  • Olive Oil: Olive oil helps the seasoning adhere to the chicken breasts and gives the chicken breasts a nice golden brown color.
  • Seasoning: We went with a simple spice blend using steak seasoning, paprika, and freshly cracked black pepper. Steak seasoning usually includes a good amount of salt, so no extra salt was needed for this recipe. You can also mix things up and try different seasoning mixes. I’ll list a few different options below.

More Seasoning Ideas

If you want to switch things up, here are some other ways you can season your air fryer chicken breasts:

Tips For Making Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

  1. Thick chicken breasts take longer to cook in the air fryer. In order to make sure the chicken breasts cook evenly, use a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to gently pound the thicker side of the chicken breast until the breast is an even thickness from one end to the other (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick).
  2. Once the chicken breasts are cooked, remove them promptly from the air fryer to stop the cooking process. This will help prevent the chicken breast from overcooking and drying out.  
  3. Allow the chicken breasts to rest for 5 minutes on a cutting board before slicing and serving. This helps the chicken breast retain all of those yummy juices.

Serving Suggestions

There are so many options to choose from when picking a side to serve with your air fryer chicken breasts. You could make a simple side salad, mashed potatoes, homemade mac and cheese, or a side of steamed green beans. And if you have a few extra minutes you can always add a side of roasted vegetables like our roasted broccoli or our oven baked steak fries!

Meal Prep Ideas

Meal prepping is a great way to save time, money, and reduce waste in the kitchen. And these Air Fryer Chicken Breasts are absolutely perfect for meal prep! You can easily slice them into equal portions for your meal prep containers, then just add in your favorite sides and vegetables.

Chicken breasts are also great to meal prep with salads, sandwiches, wraps, and even chicken burrito bowls! And if you love meal prepping as much as we do, then make sure to check out our full list of budget-friendly meal prep ideas.

Air Fryer Chicken Breast sliced in meal prep containers with green beans and mashed potatoes on the side.
Overhead view of Air Fryer Chicken Breast on a plate with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans.
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Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This juicy, tender, Air Fryer Chicken Breast is super flavorful and ready in less than 20 minutes. Perfect for meal prepping!
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $5.74 recipe / $1.43 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 204kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl mix the steak seasoning, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, and black pepper together.
  • Place both chicken breasts on a cutting board, cover them with plastic wrap or parchment paper, then use a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to gently pound the thicker side of the chicken breast until the entire breast is an even thickness from one end to the other (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick).
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Brush the olive oil over both sides of each chicken breast.
  • Generously coat both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning blend. Rub the seasoning into the breasts with your hands making sure the entire chicken breast is evenly coated with spices.
  • Place both chicken breasts inside the air fryer basket and cook for 7 minutes. Then flip the chicken breasts and cook for 6 more minutes. After a total of 13 minutes, use a meat thermometer to check the chicken breasts and make sure the internal temperature has reached 165°F, and if not, cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
  • Promptly remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer basket and rest on a clean cutting board for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve the chicken breasts with your favorite sides and enjoy.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Sodium: 172mg | Fiber: 0.4g
Overhead view of Air Fryer Chicken Breast on a plate with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Breasts – Step by Step Photos

Spices for air fryer chicken breast in a small bowl.

In a small bowl mix together 2 tsp steak seasoning, 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper together. Set the seasoning mix to the side.

chicken breasts on a cutting board being pounded with a rolling pin.

Place 2 chicken breasts on a cutting board, cover them with plastic wrap or parchment paper, then use a rolling pin or the flat side of a meat tenderizer to gently pound the thicker side of the chicken breast until the entire breast is an even thickness from one end to the other (about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick).

Seasoned chicken breasts on a cutting board.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Brush 1 Tbsp of olive oil over both sides of each chicken breast. Then generously coat both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning mix. Rub the seasoning into the breasts with your hands making sure the entire chicken breast is evenly coated with spices.

Uncooked chicken breasts added to an air fryer basket.

Place both chicken breasts inside the air fryer basket and cook for 7 minutes. Then flip the chicken breasts and cook for 6 more minutes. After a total of 13 minutes, use a meat thermometer to check the chicken breasts and make sure the internal temperature has reached 165°F, and if not, cook for 1-2 minutes longer.

Cooked chicken breasts inside an air fryer basket.

Promptly remove the chicken breasts from the air fryer basket and rest on a clean cutting board for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy these juicy, flavorful air fryer chicken breasts with your favorite sides for dinner, in a salad or sandwich for lunch, or for an easy meal prep protein!

Sliced Air Fryer Chicken Breasts on a wood cutting board.

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