Blackberry Pepper Jack Chicken with Garlic Herb Cream Sauce
Seared chicken breasts topped with melted pepper jack cheese and smothered in a luscious garlic herb cream sauce studded with fresh blackberries. Sweet, spicy, creamy, and ready in just 35 minutes — this one-skillet dinner is a total showstopper.
- Total Time35 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt (to taste)
- black pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
Garlic Herb Cream Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- salt and black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown. Adjust heat if necessary to prevent burning.
- Melt Pepper Jack on Top: Reduce heat to low. Place a slice of pepper jack on each chicken breast, cover, and cook until cheese melts and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Start the Cream Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter for the sauce. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the pan.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 4 to 6 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Blackberries: Gently fold in fresh blackberries, lightly pressing a few to release their juices while leaving some whole for texture. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Combine and Serve: Return chicken to the skillet and spoon the creamy blackberry herb sauce generously over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
For even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before seasoning. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F. Don’t mash all the blackberries — press just a few to release juices and leave most whole for beautiful texture. The cream sauce should coat the back of a spoon when ready. Leftovers reheat well over low heat with a splash of broth to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 680
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 42
