Description

A flavorful and creamy cottage cheese sauce perfectly paired with tender, pan-seared chicken breasts. This recipe uses simple ingredients like low-fat cottage cheese, parmesan, and Italian seasoning for a rich, smooth sauce cooked on the stovetop. It’s a quick and satisfying meal ideal for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken:

2 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 lbs)
Salt & pepper, to season
2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

Sauce:

1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions

Prep: Butterfly the chicken breasts into 4 thinner pieces on a flat surface, then pat them dry with paper towels. Season both sides well with salt and pepper.
Cook the chicken: Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and let it warm. Place the chicken breasts in the pan and cook without moving them for 4 minutes until golden and seared, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
Make the sauce: In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, milk, parmesan, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Sauté aromatics: Using the same pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for about 2 minutes until translucent and lightly golden. Stir in the Italian seasoning and minced garlic, cooking for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
Combine and simmer: Pour the blended cottage cheese sauce into the pan with the sautéed onions and garlic. Stir well, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to combine flavor. Return the chicken breasts to the pan, nestling them into the sauce. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and let it simmer for 10 minutes to meld flavors and thicken the sauce.
Serve: Spoon the creamy cottage cheese sauce over the chicken breasts and serve warm for a comforting and delicious meal.

Notes

Butterflying the chicken helps it cook evenly and faster.
Using a blender ensures the cottage cheese sauce is smooth without lumps.
Simmering the chicken in the sauce helps infuse it with flavor and tenderizes the meat.
This dish pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or pasta.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: cottage cheese sauce, chicken breasts, creamy sauce, stovetop chicken recipe, healthy chicken dinner, low-fat chicken sauce