by Theo Chester

Created on: February 22, 2008   Last Updated: September 04, 2009

Chicken breasts are great to have on hand for quick, and easy meals. This recipe is simple, yet it makes a wonderful dinner to share with your family and friends, or not!

Fast, Easy, and Elegant Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Wine Sauce

4 Boneless Chicken Breasts
2 Finely Diced Garlic Cloves
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1/2 Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning

1/4 Teaspoon dried Basil
4 Tablespoons Butter
1 Package Pre-Sliced Mushrooms
1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
2 Teaspoons Capers (optional)
I Slice Fresh Lemon

Take a wooden cutting board and tear off a large sheet of plastic wrap, big enough to wrap the chicken breasts.

Place the chicken breasts onto the plastic and cover.

Pound the chicken breasts to 1/4 - 1/2 inch to insure that they will cook evenly and thoroughly

Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper, poultry seasoning, and basil

Allow the chicken breasts to rest while you finely dice the garlic, or use a garlic press.

Heat a sturdy pan on medium heat and pour in the olive oil.

Add garlic and cook until the garlic has had time to soften - be careful not to over cook the garlic as it will turn bitter. If you can smell the sweetness of the garlic in the oil, it's time to add the chicken breast

It's fine to substitute garlic powder for fresh garlic. To save more time, add garlic powder to spices, rub directly into chicken breasts, as listed above, and skip the oil infusion.

With the oil is heated to medium high, sear the chicken on each side to seal in the flavors

Turn heat down to medium and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, depending upon the denseness of the chicken meat

When the juices run clear and the chicken is done, move the chicken breasts onto a plate and keep warm

Add butter to the pan, squeeze in the lemon juice. As the butter melts, add the wine, or you may use chicken broth, to deglaze the pan drippings

Add the capers to the butter and wine sauce

Add the mushrooms and continue to stir the butter, wine and mushroom mixture, until the mushrooms become soft

Add more wine if necessary

Plate up the chicken breasts, generously covering them with the mushroom wine sauce

Yield: 4 servings

Suggestions and Tips for Serving:

Suggested sides: risotto, wild rice, baked potato, broccoli, asparagus, romaine lettuce or field greens salad, yams, squash

Time saving suggestions: Season the chicken and keep it refrigerated for up to 6 hours before cooking

Mushrooms may be sauteed ahead in 1/2 Tablespoon each of olive oil and butter and stored in the refrigerator prior to adding them to the butter and wine sauce reduction

You'll love cooking this easy recipe and creating special, elegant and healthy dinners, in a flash! Save time, relax, enjoy your elegant, yet quick to make meal.

Happy Eating!

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