Mushroom Chicken Recipe

4.50 from 12 votes

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This Creamy Mushroom Chicken is an easy, one pan dinner that’s a must make for mushroom lovers! Pan seared chicken breasts in a rich and creamy mushroom sauce with white wine, shallots and fresh thyme. 

If you love this mushroom chicken recipe, then I know you’ll enjoy my chicken marsala fettuccine!

This post and recipe have been updated since it was originally published on 3/3/2021

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Creamy Mushroom Chicken in a skillet with a wooden spoon holding one of the chicken breasts.

Why You’ll Love Mushroom Chicken

If you love mushrooms then you’re going to love this Creamy Mushroom Chicken! I’m picky when it comes to mushrooms. I prefer varieties such as cremini and shiitake mushrooms that have more flavor. I don’t like mushrooms when they’re raw. And, I really despise them if they came out of a can. 

One of the things I love so much about this creamy mushroom chicken is that it’s all made in one pan. I have a lot of skillet and one pot meals on the blog, because let’s be honest, it’s one of the easiest and stress free ways to cook. No one wants to be staring at a sink full of dirty dishes after they finish a delicious meal. Speaking of, here’s what you need to make this one.

Ingredients used to make Creamy Mushroom Chicken on a sheet pan.

Swaps & Ingredient Selection Tips

  • Olive oil – Olive oil is essential for getting a golden brown sear on the chicken and mushrooms.
  • Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are an excellent lean cut of chicken. You could also use chicken cutlets or chicken tenders if you want to cut down on the cooking time. Boneless skinless chicken thighs can also be used if you prefer dark meat.
  • Shallots – Shallots are part of the onion family. They have a milder flavor compared to yellow and white onions. I love the way they almost melt into the mushroom cream sauce.
  • Mushrooms – I used cremini mushrooms, sometimes called baby bellas. Feel free to experiment with different varieties of mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms would both be great alternatives.
  • Thyme Fresh herbs are a great way to freshen and brighten up the flavors of a sauce. I love thyme leaves paired with mushrooms, but fresh parsley would work as well.
  • White wine – It’s essential to use a dry white wine for the sauce. You don’t want it to taste sweet. Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are both good options.
  • Half and half – Half and half is a nice alternative to heavy cream when you want a lighter cream sauce. It’s a combination of whole milk and cream and has about half the fat and calories compared to heavy cream. The sauce won’t be quite as thick, but it will still have a somewhat creamy consistency and a rich flavor.
Creamy Mushroom Chicken breasts in a metal skillet with a dish towel around the handle of the skillet.

How to Make Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Start by heating olive oil in a large skillet. Once it’s hot add in your seasoned chicken breasts. Brown them on the first side for several minutes and then flip and cook on the other side until they’re cooked through.

I highly recommend slicing the chicken in half lengthwise before cooking it so that it’s thinner. Likewise you can buy chicken cutlets. This will cut down on the cooking time and prevent you from having overcooked chicken on the outside and undercooked on the inside.

Remove the chicken onto a plate and add the remaining olive oil into the skillet. Add in the shallots, mushrooms and thyme and sauté for several minutes until they’ve softened. Pour in the wine and cook for another couple minutes. Stir in the the half and half until the sauce is heated through and simmering. 

Add the chicken back into the skillet and coat it with the sauce. You can garnish with chopped thyme and parsley if you’d like. See some serving suggestions below or eat it as is out of the skillet.

closeup photo of Creamy Mushroom Chicken in a skillet.

How to Clean The Mushroom

  1. Keep the mushrooms in their original packaging or a porous paper bag for the longest shelf life. Don’t clean them until you are ready to use them. 
  2. Use a damp paper towel and brush off any dirt or debris from the mushrooms. You can also quickly rinse them under water and pat them dry.
  3. If the stems are tough or dried you will want to cut them off. If you’re using shiitake mushrooms I recommend cutting off the stems as they can be particularly tough and chewy.
A wooden spoon holding up one of the Creamy Mushroom Chicken breasts.

Mushroom Chicken Troubleshooting

Why is my chicken dry?

If your chicken is dry, you’ve overcooked it and a few things may be happening.

  • The chicken breasts are too thick or different sizes. Try pounding them out with a meat mallet if one end is extra thick or cut them in half lengthwise so you have chicken cutlets.
  • You’re cooking them at too high of heat. The outside is cooking faster than the inside and you’re left with a dry stringy exterior and and undercooked middle. Get a nice sear on the outside of the chicken over medium-high heat, but then lower it to medium so it can cook all the way through, 165° F.
  • You didn’t let the chicken rest before slicing it. Chicken should rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into it so that it has time to retain all the juices.

How to prevent rubbery mushrooms?

If your mushrooms have a rubbery texture, you need to cook them longer at a high heat. Doing this removes all of the excess moisture and gives them a golden brown exterior. Wait to season the mushrooms with salt and black pepper until the end of the cooking time.

How to fix a thin sauce?

If the sauce is too thin, there’s a couple ways to fix it.

First, you may need to continue cooking it down, prior to stirring in the half and half. A couple extra minutes of cooking can make all the difference.

If the sauce is still too thin for your liking, whisk together a teaspoon of cornstarch with a teaspoon of water. Whisk the mixture in with the sauce until it thickens, then stir in the half and half.

You can also replace half and half with heavy cream and that will thicken the sauce.

Creamy Mushroom Chicken on top of rice on a brown plate with a fork.

How to Serve It

  • Over brown, white or wild rice. Rice pilaf would be another great option.
  • Turn it into a chicken pasta by serving the mushroom chicken on top of pasta. Orzo or egg noodles would be especially delicious and don’t forget to top it with parmesan cheese.
  • Cauliflower rice for a low carb option.
  • With creamy mashed potatoes, slow cooker mashed potatoes, or this cheesy cauliflower casserole.
Creamy Mushroom Chicken on top of brown rice on a brown plate.

More Recipes Using Mushrooms

If you make this mushroom chicken recipe, please leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you and do my best to respond to your comments. And if you’re on Instagram tag @reciperunner so I can see your beautiful creations!

4.50 from 12 votes

Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Pan seared chicken breasts coated in a rich and creamy mushroom sauce with white wine, shallots and fresh thyme. 
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise (cutlets)
  • 1/2 cup diced shallots
  • 16 ounces mushrooms, I used cremini and shiitake
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1/3 cup half and half or cream

Instructions 

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and add them to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes and then flip and cook on the other side until they're cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken onto a plate and cover with a piece of foil to keep them warm. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet. Add in the shallots, mushrooms and thyme and sauté for several minutes until they've softened.
  • Pour the wine into the skillet and use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the the half and half. Taste for seasoning.
  • Bring the sauce to a simmer and then add the chicken back in. Coat the chicken with the sauce and garnish the top with chopped thyme and parsley. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 48gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 122mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this? Leave a comment below!

Mushroom Chicken FAQs

Can I Use Chicken Thighs?

Yes. Boneless skinless or skin on chicken thighs would be great to use in this recipe. Always remember to cook your chicken until the thickest part reads 165° F. on a meat thermometer.

The Best Variety of Mushrooms to Use

For this mushroom chicken recipe you can use any variety of mushrooms that you like. I recommend using either a mix of wild mushroom or if you can’t find that, a combination of cremini and shiitake mushrooms. White button mushroom are fine to use in this recipe, but they won’t have as much flavor.

Can I Omit the Wine?

Yes. If you don’t cook with wine or don’t have any, replace it with chicken broth. You can also use a combination of chicken broth with a tablespoon or two of white wine vinegar. This will give you the acidic and flavor qualities of the wine without the alcohol. Don’t use cooking wine.

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4.50 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Lucy says:

    5 stars
    Minimal ingredients and so simple.
    Over mashed potatoes and mmmmm mmm m.

    1. Danae says:

      Perfect way to serve the chicken! Thanks for making it.

  2. Carol says:

    Do you brine your chicken breasts before you cook them?

    1. Danae says:

      Nope. Just slice them in half lengthwise or use chicken cutlets so that they don’t take as long to cook in the skillet.