Name: Chicken Breast in White Sauce (Low Fat)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts (skinless, whole or cut down the middle); 30 g butter; 25 g flour; 330 ml semi-skimmed/light milk (or half milk half vegetable stock (and omit the stock cube)); 4 tbsp white wine; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 1/2 vegetable stock cube (crumbled); 1/4 tsp onion granules; 3 tbsp fromage frais (fromage blanc); 3 tbsp olive oil; pepper to taste (plus a little sea salt if needed and fresh herbs for garnish)

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This chicken in white sauce is a simple and easy to make dinner recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes. Although comforting and deliciously creamy the sauce is low in fat and does not contain heavy cream.

You might also like meatballs in white sauce.

Top down view of 4 chicken breasts in white sauce with spoon in large white pan, with green cloth to the right and plates at the top.

What I love about this chicken in white sauce recipe is that, in addition to being simple to make and healthy, it is extremely versatile. It’s delicious served over pasta, with potatoes, rice as well as steamed vegetables. So you can serve it with your favourite side dish.

I used my simple white sauce recipe plus a few extra ingredients to add more richness and flavour into this chicken dish.

How to flavour chicken in white sauce

I used a bit of crumbled vegetable stock cube, Dijon mustard and onion granules for more flavour but you can create your own flavour combination. For example add lemon zest, a drizzle of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of dried thyme into the sauce. These ingredients are delicious in chicken dishes (I used them in my creamy chicken potato bake).

I only used chives for garnish but fresh parsley and dill would work well too. You can also add grated garlic into the sauce and serve the dish with a few spoonfuls of parmesan cheese. If not using fresh herbs add herbs de Provence into the sauce as it’s cooking if you like (approx. 1.5 tsp).

Side view of chicken in white sauce in large shallow white pan, with plates, lid and pepper grinder in background.

You can also substitute half of the milk with either chicken or vegetable stock (and omit the stock cube I used). I added a bit of fromage frais (fromage blanc) into the recipe, which is my go-to ingredient when it comes to creating creamy, healthy sauces as it’s virtually fat free, but you could use crème fraiche or sour cream instead if you prefer (both a lot more calorific than fromage frais).

Preparing the chicken

You can cook whole chicken breasts or cut them in half down the middle before frying to shorten cooking time (and to serve smaller portions). You can also flatten and tenderise the chicken using a meat mallet (or rolling pin) before cooking. This will also shorten cooking time.

How to make creamy chicken in white sauce: step-by-step

1.In a large shallow pan heat up 3 tablespoons of oil and fry the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side over a medium heat (or until golden brown). Transfer the chicken onto a plate, cover and set aside (leave the juices, if any, in the pan).

4 chicken breasts in large shallow white pan.

2. In the same pan melt the butter over a fairly low heat, add the flour and whisk together until a thick, smooth paste forms (this is roux).

Top down view of roux in large shallow white pan with green whisk.

3. Add the wine, stir, then add half of the milk, increase the heat and whisk until the sauce starts to thicken. Add the rest of the milk, crumbled stock cube, mustard, onion granules, pepper to taste and continue whisking until the sauce thickens and starts bubbling up. Whisk in the fromage frais, taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

Milk, crumbled stock cube and mustard in large shallow white pan with green whisk.

4. Place the chicken back in the pan, coat in the sauce, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. Add a splash of water if needed, stir and serve immediately.

4 chicken breasts in creamy sauce in large shallow white pan with lid in top right.

Top tips for making chicken with white sauce

Cooking times may vary depending on the size of your chicken breasts. If you want to shorten cooking time cut the chicken breasts down the middle before frying. You can also flatten and tenderise the chicken using a meat mallet (or rolling pin) before cooking. This will also shorten cooking time.
The sauce will thicken after a while so add a splash of water to loosen it (stir it in using a whisk). It is important to use a whisk, rather than a spoon, to make the sauce (to ensure it’s smooth).
Gluten free white sauce: You can replace the wheat flour with corn flour (use 20 g) to make this sauce gluten free.
Substitutions: Add half the amount of milk and top up with chicken/vegetable stock.
Seasoning: You may not need to add any salt into the sauce as the stock cube is quite salty. Add plenty of pepper though.
Best served immediately. Leftovers can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days. Add a splash of water when reheating the sauce (you may have to adjust the seasoning too).

4 chicken breasts with chopped chives in large shallow white pan with spoon, green cloth to the right and plates with forks at the top.

More healthy, creamy chicken recipes

Check out also this collection of 13 healthy, easy ope pot chicken recipes!

Keep in touch!

If you make this creamy chicken breast recipe let me know in the comments below. Did you make any swaps? How did it turn out for you? Thanks:)

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