Balsamic Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Balsamic Chicken is an easy, flavor-packed recipe you’ll love. Sweet, creamy, a little bit spicy mushroom sauce, all made in one pan makes this recipe a winner!

Originally published November 2017; updated October 2018

Moist, succulent boneless chicken breasts, caramelized onions and mushrooms in a creamy, slightly spicy, balsamic sauce. Sound good?

I love a flavor-rich one skillet meal especially when the end result tastes like I slaved over the recipe; but I didn’t!

It’s great to have some sophisticated tasting meals, like this easy Balsamic Chicken, that can be whipped up without much effort that make dinner feel special.

What is Balsamic Chicken?

Balsamic Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce has perfectly cooked boneless chicken breasts topped with caramelized onions and cremini mushrooms in a balsamic cream sauce.

The ‘balsamic’ is from the addition of balsamic vinegar which is aged to a sweet, lightly tangy flavor that is irresistible.

Add a side of potatoes or rice, some vegetables or salad and you are good to go!

This balsamic chicken is an easy recipe packed with sophisticated flavor that you’ll love. It’s ready in under an hour and all cooked in one skillet.

Why Cremini Mushrooms?

I love using Cremini mushrooms which are also known as baby Portobello mushrooms. Portobello are the larger meaty tasting mushrooms often substituted for meat in veggie burgers.

Cremini mushrooms are similar in size to white mushrooms but naturally have great flavor (white mushrooms have very mild flavor).

After cooking the chicken, onions and cremini mushrooms are caramelized in the same skillet giving them an even deeper, rich flavor.

My SECRET for Making Balsamic Chicken

I have a little secret when cooking boneless chicken breasts that ensures they stay moist every time.

They are seared briefly and then left to cook off the heat, in a covered skillet. This allows them to cook slowly retaining their moisture every time.

In this balsamic chicken recipe they rest off the heat while the delicious sauce is made, then are added back into the sauce before serving.

A version of this chicken breast cooking technique is used to make moist homemade shredded chicken breast which is one of the most popular recipes on Boulder Locavore.

Not only is the method successful in keeping the chicken from drying out but it makes easy, delicious shredded chicken with a fun trick.

How to Make Balsamic Chicken with creamy Mushroom Sauce – Step by Step:

1. Lightly salt and pepper boneless, skinless chicken breasts. (photo 1)
2. Melt the half of the butter in a large skillet and brown the chicken for 4 minutes per side. (photo 2).
3. Turn off the heat, add a lid to the skillet and allow to sit for 10 minutes (photo 3). Place the chicken on a plate to rest and return the skillet to the stove top.
4. Melt the remaining butter over medium-high heat (photo 4).

5. Add the onions and sauté picking up the browned bits from the pan (photo 5).

6. Add the mushrooms (photo 6) and stir occasionally letting them cook for 15 minutes (photo 7).

7. Combine the chicken stock, vinegar, thyme and red pepper flakes in the skillet (photo 8); cook until the sauce slightly thickens (2-3 minutes) (photo 9).

8. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream (photo 10) and return the chicken to the pan to cook in the sauce for a few minutes before serving (photo 11).

Balsamic Chicken is an easy, flavor-packed recipe. Much of the cooking time is actually passive time where you don’t have to do a thing. I think this saucy chicken will become a new favorite!

Tip for Cleaning Mushrooms

Mushrooms are grown in a soil substrate so often will have some remaining when purchasing them.

Mushrooms should not be rinsed as it changes their consistency. Instead here are two ways to clean them:

• Use a mushroom brush (a soft bristled brush to wipe away any soil residue). The brush bristles are dampened and then easily brush off any soil without changing the mushroom.
• Wipe them gently with a damp paper towel. It removes the dirt but doesn’t change the mushroom.

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Print

Balsamic Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

This easy chicken recipe is rich in flavor making it perfect for any dinner or entertaining guests.  The chicken timing is geared to larger chicken breasts to ensure they will cook without drying out.  If using smaller chicken breasts reduce both the on heat cooking time and the resting time.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword balsamic chicken breasts, mushroom sauce

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 386 kcal

Author Toni Dash

Ingredients

• 4 Medium-large Boneless skinless Chicken Breasts (almost 2 pounds)
• Kosher Salt and ground Black Pepper
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter divided
• 1 1/2 cups chopped Yellow Onion
• 8 ounces Cremini Mushrooms cleaned*
• 1 cup Low Sodium Chicken Stock
• 1 teaspoon fresh Thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream

Instructions

1. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts.  Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large heavy skillet (with lid) over medium-high heat.  Place the chicken breasts in the pan and cooke 4 minutes; flip and cook an additional 4 minutes. 

2. Turn off the heat and place the lid on the skillet allowing chicken to continue to cook off heat for 10 minutes.  Remove chicken from the skillet and place on a plate (note: it will continue to cook as it rests).

3. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet over medium heat.  Add the onions and saute to combine with the butter and pick up loose bits from the chicken; 1-2 minutes.  Add the mushrooms and stir to combine.  Continue cooking, stirring periodically for 15 minutes.

4. Add the chicken stock, vinegar, thyme and red pepper flakes.  Increase the heat to medium-high, stirring often and allow to simmer to slightly thicken; 2-3 minutes.

5. Lower the heat to low, stir in the cream.  Add the chicken back to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the chicken and allow to warm in the sauce for a few minutes.  Serve hot.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

* to clean the mushrooms use a mushroom brush or damp paper towel to gently wipe any soil from the mushrooms.

Nutrition Facts

Balsamic Chicken Breasts with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Amount Per Serving

Calories 386 Calories from Fat 225

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 25g 38%

Saturated Fat 14g 70%

Cholesterol 143mg 48%

Sodium 173mg 7%

Potassium 841mg 24%

Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 4g

Protein 28g 56%

Vitamin A 18.4%

Vitamin C 8%

Calcium 5.2%

Iron 5.8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.