Chicken Crema Recipe
You’ll love the flavor of this Chicken Crema Recipe! Tender chicken thighs paired with a homemade cream sauce create what’s certain to be your new favorite dish. The whole family will love this delicious, hearty meal.
Not only am I obsessed with the juicy and tender chicken, but I’m also in love with the flavor and texture of the creamy sauce. Any home chef can follow the simple steps for pollo con crema and make this easy recipe for a yummy weeknight dinner.
Creamy chicken recipes like this are delicious and, honestly, a recipe that the whole family will love. Even if you have family members who are picky eaters, they might just agree that this simple recipe is one of their new favorites.
Speaking of delicious chicken recipes, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs as well as my Hasselback Chicken. If you love creamy sauces on your chicken this Chicken Parmo is the best.
Ingredients
- Onion – I like to use red onion for this recipe.
- Bell pepper – This adds a nice sweetness and pop of color. I used orange but yellow or red bell pepper work well.
- Fresh garlic – Great for adding flavor.
- Mushrooms – Clean and slice.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs – You’ll want to use about 1.5 pounds for this recipe.
- Salt – For flavor.
- Black pepper – For flavor.
- Heavy cream – The base of the sauce.
- Sour cream – Helps to thin out the sauce.
- Paprika – For flavor.
- Chipotle puree – This adds amazing flavor! See the recipe notes for how to easily make your own.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make this Chicken Crema Recipe
Preheat a large skillet to medium.
Step One: Add olive oil to the skillet, and then add the prepared peppers, onions, and garlic. Cook until they are softened.
Step Two: Add the mushrooms and cook for a few minutes until they are tender. Put everything into a bowl.
Step Three: Season the chicken with pepper and salt and then add the chicken to the pan. Brown on both sides.
Step Four: Stir the heavy cream, sour cream, and the rest of the seasonings in a new bowl. Season to taste.
Step Five: Pour the mixture over the chicken in the skillet. Simmer on low until the chicken has an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Do not let it boil.
Step Six: Add the veggies and then serve from the skillet.
Top Tip💡
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. If you overcook the chicken, it will be dried out. The best way to ensure tender and juicy chicken is to use a meat thermometer. Once the chicken reaches 160 degrees, the chicken is considered done.
Substitutions
- Sauce – Unflavored Greek yogurt can be used in place of sour cream. Or use Mexican crema in place of both the sour cream and heavy cream.
- Boneless chicken breasts – You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer. Just slice them into thinner pieces or chicken strips the size of chicken tenderloins.
Variations
- Add different seasonings – You can season the chicken pieces or the sauce with many different flavors. Some options to try could be garlic powder, red pepper flakes, taco seasoning, cumin, or anything else that you’re craving.
- Add toppings – Fresh cilantro is the perfect garnish on this simple recipe! You can also serve with a lime wedge.
- Vegetarian – If you want vegetarian options, you could cut out the chicken and just use extra vegetables. Adding in most red onions, green onions, bell peppers of various colors, and even fresh jalapenos would be great options. You can top with cheese or serve with black beans or refried beans for protein.
See this Keto Chicken Parmesan for a flavorful weeknight meal!
Storage
One of the best things about this easy chicken recipe is that you can store leftovers for later. Simply let the simple ingredients cool to room temperature, then add the leftovers to an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat, reheat and serve.
Once you enjoy this recipe, use leftovers to make other fresh recipes. You can add the chicken and veggies into warm tortillas. Use either flour tortillas or corn tortillas to create a delicious recipe for a busy weeknight. There are many different ways to make chicken tacos, and this recipe can be one of them.
Common Questions
You can pair it with a side of steamed vegetables or even add it right on top of cauliflower rice or white rice.
If you’re a fan of spicy food, you can easily make the cream sauce spicy. Adding extra chipotle or just a little bit of cayenne pepper will create a spice level that you’ll love.
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Chicken Crema Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 small onion sliced
- 1 small red bell pepper sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh garlic chopped
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs about 1.5 lb, sliced in half widthwise to make 8 pieces
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Cream Sauce
- 4 oz heavy cream
- 4 oz sour cream
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1-3 tsp chipotle puree ***
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet to medium.
- Drizzle oil in the skillet. Add the onions, peppers, and garlic. Cook until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook a few minutes longer until they are tender. Transfer to a separate bowl.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken. Brown the chicken on both sides.
- Mix the heavy cream, sour cream, and remaining seasonings in a bowl. Season to taste.
- Pour over the chicken in the skillet. Cook over low until the chicken reaches 160. Add the vegetables. Serve from the skillet or transfer to a serving platter.
Would this work in a crock pot? And how long would I have to let it cook?
Hi Kimberly, I think it would work in the crock pot. My one concern is the sauce may end up being very thin since the chicken releases liquid. I would cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
Delicious! I’m going to add some poblanos next time.
Very good and easy! Will make again for sure, love all the flavors! I used boneless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
This looks yummy. Could boneless breasts be substituted for thighs and give similar results?
Yes, just make sure not to overcook them.
This recipe sounds delicious but there is no mention of using the preheated oven in the instructions. Could you please clarify for me? Thank you.
That was an error which has been fixed 🙂
I’m curious…why preheat the oven?
Ooops, typo! I will edit it now.
What’s the oven for?
That is a typo. I will fix it 🙂