FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• My Mushroom Chicken Recipe Is A Creamy One-Pan Wonder
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Creamy Mushroom Chicken
• My Recipe Tips
• Creamy Mushroom Chicken (20-Min Recipe) Recipe card
• Serving Ideas
• More Chicken And Mushroom Recipes
• Recipe Reviews

My Mushroom Chicken Recipe Is A Creamy One-Pan Wonder

Many of you know I’m a big fan of creamy chicken recipes — it’s one of my favorite ways to dress up a basic healthy chicken breast — and this creamy mushroom chicken is no exception. Here’s what made me fall in love with it:

• Juicy chicken with mushroom sauce – I created this recipe as a variation on my standalone creamy mushroom sauce , cooked together with the chicken this time. And beyond “just” the ultra tender chicken, the sauce takes this dish firmly into comfort food territory. It’s rich, cheesy, and velvety smooth, with major flavor from mushrooms, bacon, and a kick of Cajun spices.
• Thick and creamy without thickeners – Many chicken and mushroom recipes use cornstarch or flour to thicken the sauce, but mine is naturally thickened with parmesan cheese. Most of you know this is my favorite way to thicken a cream sauce, and it’s gluten-free!
• Made in one pan – Which means fewer dishes.
• Special, yet simple – A.k.a. my jam. This creamy mushroom chicken feels fancy enough for guests, but it’s so fast and easy that I make it all the time for regular weeknights.

If you’re a mushroom fan and in the mood for comfort food, grab a skillet and make this mushroom chicken recipe with me in just 20 minutes!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my chicken and mushroom recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Chicken Breasts – Try to find ones of the same size, so they cook at the same rate. I’ve also made this with boneless chicken thighs, so go for it if that’s what you have.
• Mushrooms – I like cremini mushrooms (a.k.a. “baby bellas”) for mushroom chicken, but shiitake mushrooms , button mushrooms, or even chopped portobellos are great.
• Heavy Cream – The base of the sauce. I don’t recommend substituting any type of milk, because it won’t thicken, but coconut cream will work. When I want this sauce lighter, I replace half of the cream with chicken broth — just keep in mind it takes longer to reduce.
• Grated Parmesan Cheese – Adds flavor and thickens the sauce. I recommend grated rather than shredded, and fresh grated parm will melt in more smoothly than the kind from a plastic can. It’s the same trick I use for Alfredo sauce , except this one tastes totally different because of the mushrooms.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves are best here (we’ll peel and crush them), but 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder works in a pinch.
• Fresh Thyme – 3 sprigs came out to about half a tablespoon of leaves for me, or fresh rosemary is nice, too. You can also swap in 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme or rosemary.
• Bacon – Optional, but adds so much flavor! You’ll need it precooked — my oven baked bacon is the easiest hands-off method.
• Cajun Seasoning – This spice blend (think paprika, onion powder, cayenne) adds a nice kick to the creamy mushroom chicken sauce. My kids prefer this dish without it though, so you may want to skip it if you have kids or like a milder flavor.
• Olive Oil , Sea Salt, & Black Pepper

How To Make Creamy Mushroom Chicken

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Season the chicken. Pat it dry with paper towels, then sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Sear until golden and cooked through. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on both sides, then transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

1. Cook the mushrooms. Toss them in the skillet along with the bacon (if you’re using it), garlic, thyme, and Cajun seasoning (optional). Cook until the mushrooms are lightly browned and any extra moisture has evaporated.
2. Simmer the sauce. Pour in the heavy cream. Let the chicken and mushroom sauce come to a simmer before moving on to the next step.
3. Thicken with parmesan. Stir in the parmesan cheese, until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
4. Bring it all together. Add the chicken back to the pan, spoon the mushrooms and sauce over the top, and let it warm through. I like to serve this creamy mushroom chicken with a sprinkle of extra parmesan and fresh parsley.

My Recipe Tips

• Slice your mushrooms fresh. The pre-sliced ones tend to have less flavor, so I highly recommend slicing them yourself!
• Double the mushrooms if you love them. Multiple readers have told me they did and loved the result. I definitely see why.
• Why pat the chicken dry? This helps you get a better sear for that nice, golden crust. Don’t skip this step!
• Cook times can vary depending on your pan. I usually use a stainless steel pan like this , but cast iron or even nonstick works fine. Cast iron usually cooks faster, whereas nonstick takes longer.
• Cook your chicken to the right temperature. You want 165 degrees F for chicken breast. I actually remove it at 162-163 degrees F to keep it juicy, because it rises a few more degrees when you combine it with the sauce at the end. For chicken thighs, though, I highly recommend 170 degrees F because that’s when they get really tender. Use a meat thermometer like this to get it just right!
• Add more oil to the pan if needed. If your pan seems dry after searing the chicken, add more oil before adding the mushrooms. Sometimes I use butter for this step for extra richness.
• Adjust the heat as needed. If it’s too low, your chicken might not get golden brown, and your sauce can turn out watery if the liquid from the mushrooms doesn’t evaporate. If it’s too high, you risk burning.
• Don’t forget to deglaze the pan. That’s just a fancy term for scraping the bottom after adding the liquid. This releases browned bits from the bottom and makes your creamy mushroom chicken more flavorful.
• Don’t let the sauce boil, only simmer. You can scald the cream if it overheats.
• Stir often when heating the cream. This prevents a film from forming on top.
• Need to adjust the thickness of the sauce? You can add more parmesan to thicken more, or add an extra splash of cream if it ended up too thick, before adding the chicken to the pan. You can also simmer it very gently to reduce and thicken. I find it does thicken as it cools from hot to warm, so factor this in.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 4 8-oz Boneless skinless chicken breasts ▢
• 2 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 1 cup Cremini mushrooms (sliced) ▢
• 1/2 cup Cooked bacon (chopped; optional) ▢
• 2 cloves Garlic (peeled and crushed) ▢
• 3 sprigs Fresh thyme ▢
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (optional) ▢
• 1 cup Heavy cream ▢
• 1 tbsp Grated parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish if desired) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-8 minutes per side , until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
3. Add the mushrooms, bacon (if using), garlic, thyme, and Cajun seasoning (if using) to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes , until the mushrooms are browned.
4. Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
5. Stir in the parmesan cheese, until the sauce is smooth.
6. Return the chicken to the skillet and cover with sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes , until warm.
7. If you like, garnish with more parmesan and/or a sprinkle of parsley.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 of entire recipe

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get juicy chicken with a golden crust, adjust the thickness of your sauce to your liking, and prevent issues with flavor or texture.
• Store: Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or microwave. Avoid high heat to prevent ruining the sauce.
• Freeze: The texture of this sauce changes a little after freezing, but I think it’s still quite good and freeze it all the time. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and stir the sauce often when reheating.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Serving Ideas

This chicken and mushroom recipe gives me all the comfort food vibes, but it’s also very rich. I recommend two types of sides to go with it:

• Starchy base – To soak up all that luxurious sauce! I went with mashed potatoes above, but make mashed cauliflower and mashed sweet potatoes more often. This creamy mushroom chicken would also be wonderful over roasted potatoes , roasted sweet potatoes , cauliflower rice , or your favorite pasta. My personal faves are zucchini noodles and baked spaghetti squash for lighter options.
• Lighter veggies – To balance out the richness. I like roasted green beans or roasted brussels sprouts to bring some greens to my plate, and this sauce is amazing over them. Or try one of my fresh side salads, like Caprese salad , spring mix salad , or wedge salad .

More Chicken And Mushroom Recipes

If you love the combo of juicy chicken and savory mushrooms as much as I do, I have lots more mushroom chicken recipes you can try:

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Creamy Mushroom Chicken (20-Min Recipe)

My creamy mushroom chicken recipe has juicy, golden chicken breasts smothered in creamy garlic parmesan mushroom sauce. Ready in 20 minutes!

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/creamy-mushroom-chicken/

Ingredients

• 4 8-oz Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tsp Sea salt
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 cup Cremini mushrooms (sliced)
• 1/2 cup Cooked bacon (chopped; optional)
• 2 cloves Garlic (peeled and crushed)
• 3 sprigs Fresh thyme
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (optional)
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 1 tbsp Grated parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish if desired)

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4-8 minutes per side , until browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.
3. Add the mushrooms, bacon (if using), garlic, thyme, and Cajun seasoning (if using) to the same skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes , until the mushrooms are browned.
4. Stir in the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
5. Stir in the parmesan cheese, until the sauce is smooth.
6. Return the chicken to the skillet and cover with sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes , until warm.
7. If you like, garnish with more parmesan and/or a sprinkle of parsley.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 of entire recipe

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get juicy chicken with a golden crust, adjust the thickness of your sauce to your liking, and prevent issues with flavor or texture.
• Store: Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or microwave. Avoid high heat to prevent ruining the sauce.
• Freeze: The texture of this sauce changes a little after freezing, but I think it’s still quite good and freeze it all the time. It’ll keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and stir the sauce often when reheating.

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)