To start, you want to ensure your chicken cooks evenly. Take a mallet or the backside of a spoon and pound the chicken breast to an even thickness. This ensures it cooks at the same rate and stays juicy throughout the process. After that, season both sides of the chicken with salt and black pepper.
Next, generously spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat it over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken and let it cook for about 4 to 5 minutes. You’re looking for a beautiful golden color on both sides, and you want the meat to be no longer pink in the center. If you notice the chicken starting to stick to the pan, don’t hesitate to spray it again with cooking spray.
Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the skillet and cover it to keep warm. This helps retain the juices while you prepare the sauce.
In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium and melt the unsalted butter. As it melts, finely mince the garlic and quarter the artichoke hearts. These will soon join the party!
Add the minced garlic and flour to the melted butter. Stir it all together and cook for about 30 seconds, whisking continuously. This step is crucial as it forms the base of your creamy sauce.
After 30 seconds, throw in the spinach and the quartered artichoke hearts. Sauté everything together for about 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld. You’ll see the spinach wilting down beautifully.
Now for the best part! Pour in the milk slowly while whisking. This will help to combine everything smoothly and scrape up any delicious brown bits stuck to the pan. Those bits pack a punch of flavor!
Once the milk is incorporated, add the cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. Stir gently until everything is melted and well combined. The sauce will become creamy and rich, and you’ll want to taste it at this point to adjust seasoning as needed.
Finally, add the cooked chicken back into the skillet. Heat everything through gently, allowing the chicken to soak in all those luscious flavors. Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste before serving.
