This easy chicken with mushroom sauce is a high protein low carb skillet dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes and tastes restaurant worthy.
This recipe builds on our popular pan fried chicken tenders method and uses a creamy mushroom sauce similar to the one in our smothered pork steaks.
Why You'll Love This Pan Fried Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
You'll love how quickly this pan fried chicken cooks, then simmers in a rich mushroom cream sauce with caramelized onions and thyme. It's keto friendly, comforting, and simple enough for busy weeknights.
- Full of flavor - This chicken dish is loaded with flavorful veggies, and a quick mushroom sauce elevates any dish!
- Easy to make swaps! Change up the type of chicken, use different herbs, or swap heavy whipping cream with coconut milk for the creamy sauce.
- Super moist and juicy - cook the chicken until it's just cooked through and then simmer in a cream sauce to keep it juicy.
- This is a delicious dish that's also low carb, keto, and gluten free too!
If you love easy, protein packed chicken recipes, try my Crock Pot Butter Chicken, Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe (Keto), and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe next.
Ingredients you'll need
- Chicken tenderloins: Also called raw chicken tenders. You can substitute boneless chicken breasts, cutlets, or thighs.
- Butter and olive oil: Create the perfect base for browning.
- Cremini "baby bella" or button mushrooms: Use one variety or a mix so it adds that earthy flavor and texture.
- White onion: Sweet Vidalia onion, yellow onion, or red onion all work.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic, jar garlic, or garlic paste adds depth.
- Chicken broth: Helps deglaze the pan and build the sauce (chicken stock or bone broth are good choices too).
- Heavy whipping cream: Creates the rich mushroom cream sauce.
- Sour cream: Adds body and a slight tang.
- Dried thyme: Brings classic flavor. Fresh thyme works too.
Full ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below.
Cast iron skillet or heavy skillet works best for browning.
How to Make Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
Step 1: Pat the chicken tenderloins dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat butter and olive oil over medium high heat and sear the chicken for about 3 minutes per side. Remove and tent with foil.
Step 2: Reduce the heat to medium, add the sliced onions and mushrooms. Add more butter and oil to the skillet if needed, and cook the vegetables for 4 minutes until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook it for 1+ more minutes until it's fragrant.
Step 3: Add thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour in broth and scrape up browned bits. Stir in heavy cream and sour cream and simmer until slightly thickened.
Step 4: Return chicken to the skillet and cook until it reaches 165 F. The sauce will continue to thicken upon standing. Spoon sauce over the top and garnish if desired.
Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of tenders use boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken cutlets, boneless skinless chicken thighs, pork steaks, or boneless pork chops. Just adjust the cooking time to make sure the chicken meat reaches 165 F.
- If you're eating stricter low carb or keto, you can easily cut the onions and/or mushrooms in half to reduce the carb even more.
- Add a splash of white wine like like chardonnay or a sherry cooking wine before the cream for deeper flavor.
- Stir in baby spinach with the cream for extra greens.
- For dried thyme, you can use fresh. 1 tablespoon fresh herbs is equal to 1 teaspoon dried. Rosemary, tarragon, Italian seasoning, or herbs de Provence would be great also.
- Swap heavy cream for coconut milk or plant based milk for a dairy free version. It won't be a thick but it'll still taste delish.
- Vegan- You could use seitan or tofu with mushroom sauce. Use coconut milk instead of heavy whipping cream and plant based sour cream too.
What to Serve with Chicken with Mushroom Sauce
Serve with cauliflower rice or steamed broccoli. It also pairs well with roasted vegetables, garlic bread, or a simple side salad. If not strictly low carb, mashed potatoes, rice, or angel hair pasta work beautifully.
Storing leftovers
- Store: Store the chicken in an air-tight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Freeze: Cream sauces can separate and get grainy, so freezing is not recommended. You can freeze the chicken alone for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet over medium low heat until the chicken reaches 165 F.
More Keto Chicken Recipes
- Chicken with Alfredo Sauce (No Pasta)
- Easy Keto Parmesan Crusted Chicken
- Chicken Cordon Bleu (No Breading)
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip with Canned Chicken
- 50 Simple Keto Chicken Breast Recipes
If you loved our chicken and mushroom dish, please leave us 5 stars for a review! Comments are always appreciated as well. <3
Recipe
Easy Chicken with Mushroom Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins raw chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 8 oz cremini or button mushrooms sliced
- ½ large white onion thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 ½ tablespoon fresh
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenderloins (tenders) dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the butter and the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 3 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and set aside on a plate, covering them with foil.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and add the sliced onions and mushrooms to the skillet. Add more butter and oil to the skillet if needed, and cook the vegetables for 4 minutes until they start to soften. Add the garlic and cook it for 1+ more minutes until it's fragrant.
- Add the fresh parsley, dried thyme, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Add the chicken broth and scrape up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the heavy whipping cream and the sour cream and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken.
- Add the chicken back to the pan and cook them for a few more minutes or until the chicken is cooked through to 165 F. The sauce will continue to thicken upon standing. Garnish with more fresh herbs and enjoy!
Notes
- Reduce onions or mushrooms if you want even lower carbs.
- Chicken tenders are simply the tender strip attached to chicken breasts.
- This same mushroom cream sauce works with pork chops, pork steaks, or chicken breasts.
- One teaspoon dried herbs equals one tablespoon fresh herbs.
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