Dairy Free Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Spinach

Name: Dairy Free Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Spinach
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock; 1 cup full fat coconut milk; 1 cup raw cashews; 300 gram jar or bottle of sun-dried tomatoes in oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 4 tbsp nutritional yeast; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp chili flakes; 1 tsp dried basil; 1/2 tsp dried thyme; 1/2 tsp sea salt ((or more to taste)); 1/4 tsp ground black pepper ((or more to taste)); 3 tbsp coconut oil ((or other fat or oil of choice)); 4 chicken breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces; 2 cans sliced black olives, drained ((total of 450mL)); 300 grams fresh or frozen spinach

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This dairy free sun-dried tomato chicken with spinach is about to become one of your new favourite recipes. Not only does it taste amazing but it's ready in under 20 minutes. The sauce is so rich and creamy and this is a healthy one pan meal your whole family will love.

A pan of creamy sun-dried tomato chicken and spinach with a spoon in it.

Chicken recipes like the best ground chicken meatloaf, paleo chicken Alfredo, cranberry maple chicken and healthy mango chicken curry make for some of the best meals, which is why I can't wait for you to try the recipe I am sharing with you today.

Table of Contents

Why you will love this recipe:
Ingredients and substitutions:
How to make:
Top Tips:
Recipe variations and add ins:
How to serve:
How to store:
Frequently asked questions:
Other recipes you will love:
Recipe

Why you will love this recipe:

It tastes incredible! This tuscan inspired chicken recipe has the most rich and creamy flavour. The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, cashews, coconut milk and spices creates the most dreamy sauce that is combined with diced chicken breasts, black olives, and spinach to make it a delicious complete meal. There is a reason this has been called dairy-free marry me chicken - it's just so delicious!
It's so easy to make! It's ready in under 20 minutes! Just like healthy salt and pepper chicken wings.
Because it's made in one pan the clean up is so quick and easy.
It's made with no cream, no butter and no dairy, but you'd never know it.
This recipe is a healthy dinner that is also gluten free, dairy free, paleo and Whole30 compliant.
It makes great leftovers and also freezes really well so it's perfect for meal prep.
It's high in protein with 49 grams of protein per serving!

If you love recipes with spinach you also need to try the best vegan spinach artichoke dip recipe.

Ingredients and substitutions:

A jar of sun-dried tomatoes - this is the key to giving this sun dried tomato chicken recipe that delicious Tuscan flavour.
Raw cashews - to give the sauce the most dreamy creamy texture, without any cream or dairy! Be sure to use raw cashews and not roasted cashews.
Coconut milk - I recommend using full fat coconut milk for the most creamy sauce. You could also easily use another milk such as unsweetened cashew milk or almond milk.
Nutritional yeast - the key to give this sauce that cheesy flavour, while keeping it dairy free.
Black olives - if you ask me olives just make everything taste better! If you don't like olives you could easily omit them from the recipe.
Spinach - you can use either fresh or frozen for this recipe, whatever you have on hand.
Chicken breasts - To add protein and make this a complete meal. I recommend using boneless chicken breasts for this recipe but you could also use boneless chicken thighs if you wish.
Herbs and spices - salt, ground black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, onion powder and chili flakes all combine perfectly to give the sauce the most amazing flavor.
Garlic - fresh garlic just makes everything taste better doesn't it? However, if you don't like garlic or are sensitive to it you could leave it out or replace it with 1 tablespoon of garlic infused olive oil.
Chicken stock or vegetable stock - either of these can be used to help make the creamy sauce on this chicken recipe.

How to make:

Step one:

First, make the sauce by putting all the sauce ingredients into your high speed blender and blending until smooth.

Step two:

Then place a large pan or pot on the stove on medium heat. Add the coconut oil and once it melts add the chicken pieces. Cook the chicken until it's fully cooked, stirring frequently so that all the sides cook evenly.

Step three:

Now add the sauce, olives and spinach to the pan with the cooked chicken. Stir everything well to combine.

Step four:

Heat the chicken and sauce mixture until all the spinach is thawed (if you are using frozen spinach) and everything is warm. This should take 5-10 minutes. Then serve and enjoy!

Step by step directions for making a creamy sun dried tomato spinach chicken recipe in a frying pan.

Top Tips:

I recommend using full fat coconut milk for this recipe rather than low fat- it makes it so much creamier!
If you don't have a high speed blender you can blend the sauce in a large food processor.
If you are following a paleo or Whole30 diet be sure the sun dried tomatoes you choose are compliant.

Recipe variations and add ins:

If you don't like olives simply leave them out of the recipe.
If you are sensitive to garlic you can leave it out or substitute the garlic cloves with 1 tablespoon of garlic infused olive oil.
You can make the sauce with either chicken broth or vegetable broth.
You can use either fresh spinach or frozen spinach for this dish. Frozen spinach just takes a little longer to cook.

How to serve:

This creamy chicken dish is delicious served as is but you could also serve it in different ways including:

Turn it into creamy sun dried tomato pasta by serving it over cooked pasta noodles.
Serve it with a side kale and apple salad or so sugar coleslaw.
Serve it with a side of air fryer roasted potato wedges or even French fries cooked in an air fryer
If you tolerate dairy, top this creamy chicken dish with parmesan cheese.

How to store:

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes really well for up to 3 months.

A pan full of a creamy Tuscan chicken and spinach recipe with a spoon in it.

Frequently asked questions:

Where do you find sun dried tomatoes in the grocery store?

This does depend on the store you are shopping at. Most grocery stores will keep the canned or jarred sun dried tomatoes in the same isle as canned olives and other canned vegetables. You can also often find dried sun dried tomatoes in the produce section of the grocery store.

Can I make this dish vegan?

Absolutely! Instead of chicken just use a plant based meat alternative instead or tofu.

Is this recipe low carb or keto?

No it is not.

Other recipes you will love:

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