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This is the saucy, cheesy chicken dinner you will find yourself craving. Cream cheese melts into the stock to make a rich, silky sauce with almost no effort, and a little dijon and smoked paprika give it a lovely savoury depth.

It all happens in one pan, so the chicken browns, the sauce comes together, and the spinach wilts right in. Comfort food that feels a bit indulgent but is genuinely easy.

Serve it over rice, pasta or mash to soak up all that creamy sauce, and watch it disappear.

Why You’ll Love It

It is a one pan dinner, so there is barely any washing up, and cream cheese does the hard work of making a rich, creamy sauce in minutes. The smoked paprika and dijon give it real flavour, the spinach and capsicum add colour and veg, and it is on the table in 40 minutes. It is the kind of easy, comforting chicken the whole family goes for.

The Shortcut That Makes It Work

Cream cheese is the shortcut here. Instead of making a sauce with flour and lots of stirring, you melt cream cheese into the stock and it turns silky and rich almost instantly. Everything happens in the one pan the chicken browned in, so the flavour builds as you go and the sauce comes together in minutes.

Handy Tips

Brown the chicken well at the start for colour and flavour, then set it aside so it does not overcook while the sauce comes together. Stir the cream cheese into the warm stock until it is fully smooth before the chicken and spinach go back in, so you do not get lumps. Let it simmer just until the sauce is thick and the spinach has wilted, and season at the end to taste.

What To Serve With It

Serve it over rice, pasta or creamy mash to catch the sauce. A simple green salad or some steamed greens on the side rounds it out.

Leftovers / How to Store It

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of stock or milk, as the cream cheese sauce thickens once chilled.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this Creamy Cheese Chicken, here are a few more ideas to add to your rotation:

Creamy-Cheese-Chicken
Steph de Sousa

Creamy Cheese Chicken

StarStarStarStarStar
5 from 7 votes
Creamy Cheese Chicken is a quick and comforting one-pan dinner made with juicy chicken thighs, a rich cream cheese sauce, smoky paprika, dijon, and spinach. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for weeknights and absolutely delicious served with rice, pasta, or crusty bread.
Print Recipe
prep time Prep Time 15 minutes
setting time Cook Time
 25 minutes
total time Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Recipes
Cuisine: Australian
Calories: 537
dish icon Ingredients Equipmentcook book Methodhealt Nutritionvideo icon Video

Ingredients
 

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 1 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 diced onion
  • 1 diced capsicum
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 250 g cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 300 g spinach
  • salt and pepper

Equipment

Method
 

  1. Season chicken thighs with paprika, thyme, salt and pepper.
  2. Heat a pan with a little olive oil and pan-fry until golden brown on both sides, then remove from the pan.
  3. Toss in the onion and capsicum, cook for 2 mins until they start to soften.
  4. Add stock, cream cheese, and Dijon. Stir until smooth and creamy.
  5. Add spinach and the chicken back in. Simmer until spinach has wilted and the sauce is thick and luscious.
  6. Serve hot and get ready for happy faces around the table!

Nutrition

Calories: 537kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 27gFat: 42gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 176mgSodium: 493mgPotassium: 978mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 10176IUVitamin C: 65mgCalcium: 172mgIron: 4mg

Video

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FAQs

Can I use chicken breast instead of thigh?

Yes. Thigh stays juicier in the sauce, but breast works, just keep an eye on it as it cooks faster and can dry out.

What should I serve it over?

It is made for something that soaks up the sauce, rice, pasta or mash all work well. A green salad on the side is nice too.

Can I use a different cheese?

Cream cheese is what makes the sauce silky, so it is the best choice. In a pinch, a tub of a similar soft, spreadable cheese will do a similar job.

Can I add more vegetables?

Yes. Mushrooms, extra capsicum or peas all work. Add quicker cooking veg like spinach near the end.

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