Creamy Mushroom Chicken – Cozy One-Pan Fall Dinner with Mashed Potatoes

Introduction

Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Mashed Potatoes brings all the best elements of a fall dinner to your table: rich, savory flavor, comforting creamy sauce, and hearty sides—all made in a single pan. With tender chicken breasts nestled in a luscious mushroom sauce and served atop velvety mashed potatoes, this meal is both elegant enough for special occasions and simple enough for a cozy weeknight in.

Why This Creamy Mushroom Chicken Is a Must-Make

This one-pan recipe is pure comfort food with minimal cleanup, making it a true crowd pleaser. The umami-packed mushrooms and silky sauce are the perfect match for golden seared chicken. Paired with creamy mashed potatoes, you have a meal that feels indulgent but is surprisingly easy to make. It’s a fantastic way to usher in fall’s chilly evenings with warmth and flavor.

The Secret to Silky Mushroom Sauce

The key to standout mushroom sauce is sautéing a mix of cremini and white mushrooms with garlic and thyme until deeply golden. The mushrooms’ natural juices add depth, while a splash of white wine and a swirl of cream bring richness and balance. Simmering the chicken in the sauce allows the flavors to meld, delivering fork-tender meat every time.

One-Pan Dinner, Minimal Effort

Making this recipe in one pan boosts the flavor and streamlines your cooking. You’ll start by searing chicken breasts, then build flavor right in the pan by adding mushrooms and aromatics. The mashed potatoes can be cooked in a separate pot or prepared in advance for an even quicker meal. This makes dinner prep straightforward and cleanup a total breeze.

Serving Suggestions for a Cozy, Complete Dinner

Pile the creamy mushroom chicken over a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes and garnish with fresh parsley for just the right pop of color. Serve with simple steamed green beans or roasted carrots on the side for a complete, comforting meal. It’s also excellent with a crisp green salad to brighten the plate.

Nutritional Information and Portions

This recipe yields 4 generous portions. Each serving (including mashed potatoes) typically contains about 450-550 calories, balancing protein, carbs, and creamy goodness for a satisfying dinner.

Creamy Mushroom Chicken (Recap)

Combining golden-seared chicken, earthy mushrooms, and silky sauce with classic mashed potatoes, this one-pan dinner sings with autumn flavor. It’s the kind of crowd-pleasing comfort dish that will become a cold-weather favorite at your table.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Place potatoes in a large pot, cover with water, and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until fork tender (15-20 minutes). Drain and mash with butter and milk; season with salt. Keep warm.
2. Cook the Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry; season both sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear chicken 5-6 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through (165°F). Set aside on a plate and cover loosely.
3. Make the Mushroom Sauce: In the same skillet, add mushrooms and sauté until browned, 4-5 minutes. Add onion and cook 2 minutes; stir in garlic and thyme and cook 1 minute more.
4. Deglaze pan with wine; simmer 2-3 minutes. Stir in cream, chicken broth, and Dijon, scraping up any brown bits. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
5. Return chicken (and any juices) to pan; spoon sauce over. Simmer 2-3 minutes for flavors to meld.
6. Serve: Spoon creamy mushroom chicken and sauce over mashed potatoes. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.

Weekly Meal Planning

This cozy one-pan dinner is perfect for prepping ahead and scheduling into your weekly meal plan. Save and schedule this recipe to automatically generate a consolidated shopping list—including quantities for all planned meals—saving you time and keeping your dinners organized all week.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient amounts across all your recipes
• Sorts your grocery list by store section—no more backtracking in the aisles
• Eliminates missing items and duplicate purchases
• Makes meal prep and weeknight dinners smoother and faster

Pro tip: Schedule recipes together to see exactly how many onions, potatoes, or eggs you’ll need all week, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes