Creamy Ranch Chicken

 

Ingredients:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved horizontally to make 4 fillets
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3 tablespoons finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or canola oil
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped for garnish (optional)

For The Sauce:

• 8 ounces bacon, trimmed of fat and diced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 large cloves garlic, grated on a Microplane or minced
• 10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 cup sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 oz. packet Ranch seasoning mix (about 3 tablespoons)

Instructions:

1. Cut the chicken breasts into thinner slices, making about 2 slices per breast. Use a meat tenderizer to gently flatten the chicken to approximately ½ inch thick.

2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Dredge the seasoned chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess, and set aside.

3. In a large pan or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, heat olive oil and melted butter over medium-high heat until the butter has melted and the pan is hot. Cook the chicken until golden on each side and fully cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side depending on thickness. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate.

4. Add diced bacon to the pan and cook until crispy. Transfer bacon to a plate, leaving about 1 teaspoon of fat in the pan.

5. Add chopped onion and grated garlic to the pan, sautéing until the onion becomes translucent, about 1 minute.

6. Reduce heat to low and add cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, and Ranch seasoning mix to the pan. Stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 minutes, then add back the cooked bacon and continue cooking for an additional 2 minutes.

7. Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Partially cover the skillet and allow the chicken to heat through and absorb the flavors of the sauce, about 2 minutes.

8. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve hot alongside mashed or baked potatoes.

Enjoy this delicious chicken with creamy bacon and Ranch sauce!