Craving a delicious and comforting chicken dish that will have your family asking for seconds? Creamy Chicken Gloria might just be your new favorite meal! With juicy chicken breasts, flavorful mushrooms, and a rich, velvety cheese sauce, this dish is not only satisfying but also incredibly easy to make. It’s perfect for a family dinner or even for entertaining guests. Plus, I’ll guide you step-by-step so you’ll have no problem whipping this up. Ready to dive in?
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll need to bring this delightful dish together. Here’s what you’ll need for Creamy Chicken Gloria:
Chicken and Mushrooms:
- 3 large chicken breasts : Trimmed and cut into smaller portions.
- Salt and pepper : To season the chicken.
- 1 cup flour : For dredging the chicken.
- 4 Tbsp butter (divided): You’ll use part for cooking the chicken and some for sautéing the veggies.
- 1 Tbsp olive oil : Helps prevent the butter from burning.
- 1 medium onion , diced: Adds sweetness and depth of flavor.
- 2 tsp garlic , minced: Because no dish is complete without a bit of garlic, right?
- 8 ounces mushrooms , sliced: They add an earthy, meaty flavor to the dish.
Creamy Cheese Sauce:
- 3 Tbsp butter : Base of your sauce.
- 3 Tbsp flour : Helps thicken the sauce.
- 1 tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper : For seasoning the sauce.
- 1½ cups chicken broth : Adds richness and enhances flavor.
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar : Adds a bit of acidity to balance out the creaminess.
- 1 cup half and half : Makes the sauce wonderfully creamy.
- 8 ounces Muenster cheese , sliced: Melts on top to give you that gooey, delicious finish.
Prepping the Chicken: Getting a Golden, Crispy Exterior
Before we start cooking, prep the chicken. Start by trimming any excess fat and sinews from your chicken breasts. Slice each chicken breast in half lengthwise to make the pieces more manageable. Then, cut them into serving-sized portions. Once prepped, season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
Now, let’s move to the cooktop! In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of butter and a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. The olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning while giving your chicken a beautiful sear.
While your skillet heats up, dip each piece of chicken into flour . Make sure to shake off the excess flour before placing them in the skillet. You want a light dredge — just enough to give it that perfect golden crust.
Sear the chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side until lightly browned. You don’t need to cook it all the way through just yet; we’ll be finishing it in the oven later. Once browned, transfer the pieces to a 2-quart or 9×13” baking dish.
Spoiler alert: Your kitchen will start smelling incredible by this point!
Sautéing the Flavorful Mushroom Mixture
Next comes one of my favorite elements of the dish: the sautéed mushrooms, onions, and garlic. They really boost the savory flavors and take this Creamy Chicken Gloria to the next level.
After transferring the seared chicken to the baking dish, don’t clean that skillet just yet! You’ve built up so much flavor in that pan from browning the chicken, and we’re going to use it all.
Steps for Making the Mushroom Mixture:
- Melt Remaining Butter – In the same skillet, melt your remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. The butter will help brown and soften the vegetables while adding a rich, buttery note.
- Add Onions and Mushrooms – Toss in your onions (diced) and sliced mushrooms and sauté them for about 5 minutes . Stir occasionally to ensure they cook evenly. You’ll want to cook until the onions become translucent and the mushrooms are tender, releasing their moisture and becoming slightly golden-brown. The combination of the softened onions and rich mushrooms will create an irresistible aroma in your kitchen!
- Add Garlic – During the last minute of sautéing, add the minced garlic . Garlic can burn quickly, which is why we’re giving it less time to cook. Let it sauté for no more than a minute, stirring frequently, just until it’s fragrant.
- Top the Chicken – Once sautéed, carefully spoon the mushroom mixture evenly over the chicken that’s already sitting in your baking dish. This guarantees that when the chicken bakes, it absorbs that earthy, garlicky goodness while remaining moist and flavorful.
Crafting the Creamy Cheese Sauce
Now, it’s time to make the luscious, velvety sauce that will tie the whole dish together. The combination of butter, flour, chicken broth, vinegar, half and half, and melted Muenster cheese creates a rich and creamy sauce with just the right balance of flavors. This sauce is what turns simple chicken breasts into a dish your family will crave again and again!
Steps for Making the Creamy Sauce:
- Melt the Butter and Make a Roux:
- Using the same skillet (no need to clean it — every bit of flavor counts!), melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s melted and bubbling, whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour . This forms a “roux,” which is essential for thickening the sauce. Keep whisking for about 1 minute to cook out the raw flour taste, yet ensure it doesn’t turn too dark.
- Add Seasoning & Chicken Broth:
- While whisking constantly, add 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the roux. Slowly pour in 1½ cups of chicken broth while continuously whisking to avoid lumps. Keep whisking until the sauce begins to thicken and bubble. The chicken broth will also deglaze the pan, lifting all those flavorful bits from the mushrooms, onions, and garlic.
- Balancing Flavors with Vinegar:
- Stir in 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar . This might seem like an unusual addition, but trust me, it adds just enough acidity to cut through the richness and balance everything out. It also helps to brighten the flavors of the sauce, giving it more complexity.
- Pour in the Cream:
- Slowly whisk in 1 cup of half and half . Continue whisking the sauce for another 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly and becomes smooth and creamy. Your sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon but still pourable. Taste the sauce at this point, and if needed, adjust the salt and pepper to reach the desired flavor (seasoning is everything!).
Bringing It All Together: Baking the Chicken with Sauce and Cheese
Now that we’ve made that heavenly creamy sauce, it’s time to combine everything and bake it to perfection. This process melts the cheese, infuses the chicken with flavor, and brings all those elements together in a dish that’s creamy, cheesy, and comforting. Let’s get back to our chicken and mushroom mixture in the baking dish.
Final Steps:
- Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken:
- Carefully pour the freshly made sauce from the skillet evenly over the chicken and sautéed mushrooms in your baking dish. Make sure all the chicken pieces are completely covered so that each bite is packed with creamy, flavorful goodness. The sauce will slowly sink into the chicken as it bakes, keeping the meat moist and full of flavor.
- Top with Cheese:
- It’s time for the cheesy finish! Take your 8 ounces of sliced Muenster cheese and layer the slices over the top of the chicken. Make sure each piece of chicken is covered with a generous slice of this melt-in-your-mouth cheese. As the chicken bakes, the cheese will melt and get bubbly, creating that golden, irresistible layer on top.
- Bake the Chicken:
- Cover the baking dish with foil to keep everything moist during the initial baking phase. Place it into a preheated oven at 350°F and bake for 25 minutes . The chicken will finish cooking through, and the sauce will thicken slightly as it bakes.
- Broil for a Golden, Bubbly Finish:
- Once the chicken has baked for 25 minutes, remove the foil. Switch your oven to broil and carefully slide the baking dish under the broiler for 2-3 minutes . Keep a close eye on it (the broiler works fast!) — you want the cheese to become golden, bubbly, and slightly browned but not burned.
- Rest and Serve:
- When the cheese is perfectly golden on top, remove the baking dish from the oven. Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring the chicken stays juicy and tender when served.
Optional Additions: You can garnish with fresh parsley or thyme for a pop of color and an aromatic finish.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers (though I doubt there will be!), store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days . To reheat, simply warm the chicken and sauce in the oven at 300°F until heated through, or you can use a microwave for quicker heating.
Conclusion
There you have it – a rich, creamy, and cheesy chicken dish that’s beyond satisfying. The seared chicken, combined with the earthy sautéed mushrooms, onions, and a velvety cheese sauce, creates a mouthwatering combination that will surely become a family favorite. Creamy Chicken Gloria is comfort food at its best – easy enough for a weeknight meal but impressive enough for guests.
So, roll up your sleeves, grab your ingredients, and treat yourself (and your loved ones) to this creamy chicken masterpiece. Bon appétit!