Pan-Seared Chicken with Spiced Tomato Sauce and Creamy Polenta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Tender chicken breasts seared to golden perfection, served with a spiced tomato sauce and smooth, creamy corn polenta. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 30 min Serves 2 Mediterranean cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts dry and season evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp smoked paprika.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, then remove and keep warm.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 3 minced garlic cloves; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add 14 oz canned diced tomatoes, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes. Simmer the sauce over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Step 4: Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan with a pinch of salt. Slowly whisk in 1 cup yellow cornmeal, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently until thick and creamy.
  5. Step 5: Remove polenta from heat and stir in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
  6. Step 6: Serve the seared chicken breasts topped with the spiced tomato sauce alongside creamy polenta.

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