This creamy chicken and kale skillet is a weeknight dinner dream come true.
It’s incredibly simple to prepare, yet delivers a rich and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy. If you’re looking for a quick and flavorful dish that uses everyday ingredients, you’ve found your new go-to recipe.
Forget complicated cooking techniques or long ingredient lists. This recipe focuses on ease and comfort, bringing together tender chicken and healthy kale in a luscious cream cheese sauce that comes together in one pan. It’s perfect for those busy evenings when you want something homemade and delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Creamy Chicken and Kale Skillet
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This creamy chicken and kale skillet is a simple, satisfying weeknight dinner that comes together in one pan. Tender chicken and healthy kale are cooked in a luscious cream cheese sauce, perfect for busy evenings. It’s a quick and flavorful dish that uses everyday ingredients and is great for meal prepping.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken: Start by cutting your boneless, skinless chicken breasts into uniform 1-inch cubes. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken cubes with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until they are well coated.
2. Brown the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and mostly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
3. Build the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the softened cream cheese to the same skillet. Stir constantly, breaking it up with a spoon, until it begins to melt and smooth out. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then the milk, stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy with no lumps of cream cheese remaining. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
4. Incorporate the Kale: Add the chopped kale to the skillet with the sauce. Use tongs to gently toss the kale, coating it in the sauce. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until the kale has wilted significantly and is tender.
5. Combine and Simmer: Return the browned chicken to the skillet with the sauce and wilted kale. Stir everything together gently to ensure the chicken is fully coated in the creamy sauce. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking through and the flavors to meld beautifully. The sauce should thicken slightly.
6. Serve Warm: Once the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling gently, remove the skillet from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Keywords: chicken, kale, creamy, skillet, weeknight, easy, dinner, one pan, comfort food, quick
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
You’ll quickly fall in love with this creamy chicken and kale skillet because it truly simplifies dinner without sacrificing flavor. It’s designed for busy parents, new cooks, or anyone who appreciates a hearty, comforting meal that doesn’t require a lot of fuss. This recipe works beautifully as a satisfying weeknight dinner, offering a complete meal with protein and vegetables all cooked together. It’s also fantastic for meal prepping, as the flavors meld even more beautifully the next day. The rich cream cheese sauce makes even picky eaters eager to finish their plates, and the inclusion of kale adds a healthy boost without overpowering the dish. It’s a versatile recipe that can be dressed up or down depending on what you serve alongside it, making it a reliable choice for almost any occasion.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
This recipe uses straightforward ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or can easily find at any grocery store. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and the way a few key components come together to create something truly delicious.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup milk (any kind)
- 4 cups fresh kale, stems removed and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap boneless, skinless chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer. If you don’t have fresh kale, a bag of pre-chopped frozen kale (thawed and squeezed dry) will work in a pinch, though fresh is always best for texture. Feel free to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand. For the milk, any variety from whole to skim will work, or even a non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk if you’re looking for an alternative, though the creaminess might vary slightly.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it perfect for those evenings when time is of the essence.
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15-20 minutes
- Total time: 25-30 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making this creamy chicken and kale skillet is a breeze. Follow these steps for a perfect, flavorful meal every time.
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by cutting your boneless, skinless chicken breasts into uniform 1-inch cubes. This ensures even cooking. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken cubes with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until they are well coated. This seasoning step is crucial for building flavor from the start.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown on all sides and mostly cooked through. It doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this stage, as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- Build the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the softened cream cheese to the same skillet. Stir constantly, breaking it up with a spoon, until it begins to melt and smooth out. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, then the milk, stirring until the sauce is smooth and creamy with no lumps of cream cheese remaining. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate the Kale: Add the chopped kale to the skillet with the sauce. Use tongs to gently toss the kale, coating it in the sauce. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, or until the kale has wilted significantly and is tender. Don’t overcook the kale, as it can become mushy.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the browned chicken to the skillet with the sauce and wilted kale. Stir everything together gently to ensure the chicken is fully coated in the creamy sauce. Let it simmer for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking through and the flavors to meld beautifully. The sauce should thicken slightly.
- Serve Warm: Once the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbling gently, remove the skillet from the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy chicken and kale skillet is incredibly versatile, making it easy to adapt to different tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use spinach instead of kale, as its milder flavor and softer texture are often more appealing to younger palates. You could also stir in some cooked pasta, like penne or rotini, at the end to make it a heartier, one-pot pasta dish that kids often adore.
To vary the flavors, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a subtle kick, or a squeeze of lemon juice at the very end to brighten the dish. You could also stir in some sun-dried tomatoes (drained and chopped) along with the kale for an extra layer of savory depth. For a different protein, cooked shrimp or even white beans could be used, though cooking times would need to be adjusted.
This dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides. Serve it over fluffy white rice, quinoa, or couscous to soak up all that delicious creamy sauce. For a lighter meal, a side of crusty bread or a simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing is perfect. It’s also substantial enough to be served on its own. For a party or buffet, keep it warm in a slow cooker on a “warm” setting and offer small bowls, perhaps with a side of toasted baguette slices for dipping.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have a few common pitfalls. Knowing what to look out for can help you achieve perfect results every time.
One frequent mistake is overcrowding the skillet when browning the chicken. If you add too much chicken at once, it will steam instead of brown, resulting in less flavorful chicken. To avoid this, cook the chicken in two batches if your skillet isn’t large enough to accommodate it in a single layer.
Another common issue is overcooking the kale. Kale cooks down quickly, and if left on the heat for too long, it can become mushy and lose its vibrant color and some of its nutritional value. Add the kale only after the sauce has started to form, and cook it just until it’s tender-crisp and wilted, usually 3-5 minutes.
Finally, ensure your cream cheese is softened before adding it to the skillet. If it’s cold and hard, it will be much harder to melt smoothly into the sauce, leading to lumps. Take it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before you start cooking, or gently microwave it for 10-15 seconds to soften it. Whisking continuously when adding the broth and milk will also help create a silky, lump-free sauce.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy chicken and kale skillet is a fantastic meal prep option, as it reheats beautifully. To store leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheating is simple. For individual portions, microwave on medium power, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If reheating a larger amount, transfer the dish to a skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat. You might find that the sauce has thickened slightly in the fridge; if so, add a splash of milk or chicken broth (1-2 tablespoons at a time) while reheating to bring it back to your desired consistency. Stir gently and heat until simmering and warmed through. Avoid high heat, as it can cause the sauce to separate or the chicken to dry out.
Making this dish ahead is also a great strategy for busy weeks. You can cook the entire recipe as directed, then store it in the refrigerator. Reheat as described above. The flavors actually tend to deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen chicken? Yes, you
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
