Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken

Bursting with fabulous Mediterranean flavours, Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Chicken is the ideal one-pan meal. Quick to prepare and cook, maximum flavour, minimum effort. Dinner perfection.

As the weather warms up, the idea of spending hours in a hot kitchen becomes increasingly unattractive. When the sun is shining we all want light, quick meals, maximum flavour with minimum fuss so we can get back to enjoying the warmth outside.

Chicken breasts are always a winner as they cook quickly, are universally popular and soak up loads of flavour. My recipe for Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken has got you covered.

Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Chicken in an enamel pan with fresh bread on the side

An easy summer dinner

This is a super easy one-pan meal! First, you sear a couple of chicken breasts until golden brown. Then you can cook up the creamy, Mediterranean inspired sauce all in the same pan. (saves on the washing up, win!) I have to warn you, this sauce is so good that everyone will be fighting over the pan at the end.

Ingredients

This recipe is such a great combination of big summery flavours. The chicken breasts are cooked with:

  • fresh basil
  • sun-dried tomatoes
  • olives
  • capers
  • lemons
  • garlic
  • fragrant dried oregano

These are all summer store cupboard essentials, and they all combine to make a seriously good sauce.

Sun dried Tomato and Basil Chicken Preparation steps and ingredients. Browning chicken in pan, basil, olive s and sun dried tomatoes

Make sure to get plenty of colour on the chicken breasts, that way there’s lots of flavour.

Recommended side dishes

Keep it simple! This is a quick recipe for a middle-of-the-week meal, as it’s ready in around half an hour from the moment you start to cook.

I’d recommend serving this dish with simple sides; a big loaf of crusty bread to soak up the sauce and a big, leafy green salad on the side. If you are looking for inspiration, try my Greek Village Salad and Homemade Tomato and Rosemary Focaccia recipes.

Variations and substitutions

This sauce is also delicious with pork, so you could quickly sear some pork medallions and proceed as per the recipe.

If you’re not a fan of olives or capers you can leave them out or replace them, just be sure to season generously with salt and pepper to make up for the missing flavour.

I hope it’s beautiful and sunny where you are too, take care out there and happy cooking!


Frequently Asked Questions

Can I double this recipe?

Yes! You need to make two changes. You need to cook the chicken in batches, unless you have a seriously gigantic pan, otherwise it will steam rather than browning.

You’ll also need to reduce the creamy sauce for 5 minutes before adding the chicken back to the pan and continuing as in the recipe.

Don’t cook the chicken for longer in the sauce as it will toughen, if you need a thicker sauce, use cornstarch as suggested in the notes.

the only chicken breasts I can find at the shops are gigantic! What can I do?

I always trim chicken breasts down to 200g (7 oz.) each and I save all the trimmings for a salad or stir-fry. Try my Chicken and Farro Salad or Honey and Ginger Chicken Stir fry, they are perfect for using up offcuts.

Can Sun-dried tomato and basil chicken be frozen?

Sauces with cream in them can split a little after defrosting. This meal can be frozen but it might not look quite so beautiful. You can refrigerate the fully cooked dish for up to 3 days.

Sundried Tomatoes and Olives in an enamel pan

I like to use green olives in this recipe, but Kalamata olives would be delicious too!

Sun dried Tomato and Basil Chicken in a red pan with fresh basil and oregano on a wooden background
Close up of Sun dried Tomato and Basil Chicken in a pan

Sun-Dried Tomato and basil Chicken Recipe

Chicken breasts in a creamy sun dried tomato and basil sauce in a red pan

Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Chicken

Jay Wadams
Bursting with fabulous Mediterranean flavours, Sun-dried Tomato and Basil Chicken is the perfect one-pan meal. Quick to prepare and cook, maximum flavour, minimum effort. Dinner perfection.
4.89 from 9 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients
 

  • 800 g chicken breasts, 200g (7 oz.) ea.
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large cloves garlic, finely diced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 100 g semi-dried tomatoes, diced (see notes)
  • 100 g green olives, torn in half
  • 125 ml white wine
  • 200 ml heavy cream
  • 125 ml hot chicken stock, ,made from cubes or powder is fine
  • zest of 1 small lemon
  • 1 bunch fresh basil
  • 1 Tbsp capers
  • sea salt and black pepper

to serve:

  • baguette or other crusty bread

optional:

  • 1-2 tsp cornflour / cornstarch, see notes

Instructions
 

  • FLATTEN CHICKEN BREASTS: Lay the chicken breasts between two sheets of clingfilm or baking parchment. Use a rolling pin or similar to gently beat the thicker end of the breasts so that they are an even thickness. You are not trying to turn the chicken breasts into schnitzel, levelling the chicken breasts will help them to cook evenly. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  • BROWN CHICKEN BREASTS: Heat the butter and olive oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan until the butter is melted and foaming. Lay the chicken breasts in the pan and cook, without moving them, for 5 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts and cook a further 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil and keep warm.
  • MAKE THE SAUCE: Add the garlic, oregano, tomatoes and olives to the pan and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Pour the white wine into the pan and use a wooden spatula to scrape up all the browned on flavour. Simmer for 1 minute, then pour in the cream and chicken stock. Stir through the lemon zest, then add the chicken breasts and any resting juices back to the pan.
  • SIMMER: Bring the liquid to a simmer, then turn the heat to medium and cook gently for 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly. Taste and correct seasoning if necessary.
  • SERVE: Scatter over the basil and capers, then divide between 4 warm plates and serve with a crusty baguette or good quality bread to soak up all the sauce.

Notes

  • Sun-dried tomatoes come in a range from very moist and soft, to desert dry and hard. The sun-dried tomatoes I use here are the kind that come in a jar, covered in oil, rather than the extra-dry, chewy kind.
  • If you prefer a thicker sauce, mix 1 tsp of cornflour / cornstarch with 1 Tbsp of cold water and add the pan along with the wine and cream.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1breast | Calories: 593kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 201mg | Sodium: 852mg | Potassium: 1250mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1506IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a review or a star rating and let me know how it was! Use the hashtag #daysofjay on Instagram so I can see your delicious creations.
Course | Main Event
Cuisine | Italian
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Jay Wadams
Jay Wadams

Jay Wadams is a cookbook author, food photographer and Le Cordon Bleu Gastronomy and Nutrition graduate. Based in Italy 🇮🇹 Germany 🇩🇪 and Australia 🇦🇺.

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