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    Home >> American

    Chicken in Creamy Saffron Sauce

    Modified: Oct 16, 2023 · Published: Jan 6, 2021 by Analida · • Word count:1310 words. • About 7 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links ·

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    You will love this creamy saffron sauce smothering your tender chicken breasts! | ethnicspoon.com

    It sounds fancy, but you can make chicken in a creamy saffron sauce in about one hour. Really! Now, I will admit that saffron is kind of expensive, but a little goes a long way.

    seared chicken on a white plate with a spoon ladling yellow creme sauce on top
    Jump to:
    • Growing saffron
    • Saffron background
    • Saffron in ancient times
    • Saffron historical uses
    • Step by step photos:
    • Frequently asked questions:
    • Chicken in Creamy Saffron Sauce Recipe

    Chicken in creamy saffron sauce. My mouth is watering. Chicken is so versatile. Entire books have been dedicated to numerous recipes for this feathery friend. I will admit, right off the bat, saffron is a favorite of mine. It's expensive I know, but it is so delicious and delicate. By the way, in my book, you can't go wrong with cream.

    seared chicken breasts on a plate all topped with yellow creme sauce and parsley

    Growing saffron

    It takes about 70,000 stems to get a pound of saffron.Holy cow!!! Yup, that's a lot of stems, and a lot of picking.  Now, as far as a substitute? Sorry, but no! No spice or herb is a good substitute for the delicate taste of saffron.

    Saffron background

    The word saffron is of Arabic origin: Za’fran,  meaning yellow. Interestingly enough, the Spanish word for saffron is azafran, almost identical to its Arabic counterpart. The deep reddish threads (stigma) of the crocus turn a deep yellow when they come in contact with water. Saffron features prominently  in Persian and Mediterranean cuisine. You can’t possibly make a paella (the typical Spanish seafood and rice dish) or an Adas Polow ( a Persian dish consisting of rice, lentils and raisins) without saffron.  Apart from its use in savory dishes, saffron is also used in cakes and other sweets. More on that later.

    safron spice strands

    Saffron in ancient times

    In ancient Egypt it was used as a perfume dye and  medicine. It also had a religious use: saffron cakes were used as offerings the gods.  In ancient Mesopotamia saffron was used as both an aromatic and as an aphrodisiac.  In the Middle Age spice, it was considered  the most desired along with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. According to Greek mythology, the god Hermes accidentally struck his friend Croco lethally wounding him. In the spot where blood dripped, Hermes touched his sword and flowers began to grow.  These flowers were, well... crocuses! Another reference to saffron in Greek mythology has Zeus sleeping on a bed of saffron.

    Saffron historical uses

    Saffron also appears in the social rituals of antiquity. It was allegedly scattered at the feet of Roman emperors. Not surprising given the excesses that characterized the Roman Empire. Along the same vein, saffron was supposedly sprinkled on couches of fashionable homes so guests could breathe in the sweet aroma. I just hope the couches were not white!!!  It was also thrown on the beds of newlyweds in Ancient Rome (Remember saffron’s aphrodisiac use in ancient Mesopotamia?)

    Step by step photos:

    A series of photos showing the steps to make a lightly breaded chicken in creamy saffron sauce.
    1. Preheat your oven to 200°F.  Slice your chicken breasts horizontally through the middle. 
    2. Place one sliced half between two pieces of plastic wrap. Lightly pound each chicken breast until it is about ¼ inch thick. Tip: Sprinkle a little water on the plastic before placing the chicken. It will make easier to pound out.
    3. Beat 2 eggs in a pie pan and place each chicken breast in the egg to coat.
    4. Take another pie pan and stir to combine the flour, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Dredge each chicken breast to fully coat.
    5. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Work in batches and you may need add a little more oil as you go. As the breasts are done cooking in the skillet place in an oven safe dish. Keep all the cooked chicken breasts warm in the oven while making the pan sauce.
    6. Using the same skillet, sauté the shallot and garlic until the shallot is translucent.
    7. Add the white wine to deglaze the pan. Scrape up all the little bits from the pan surface and cook until most of the wine has evaporated.
    8. Add the cream and saffron to the pan.
    9. Whisk the sauce on low for 5-10 minutes.
    10. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens to a nappe consistency or coats as spoon when wiped as shown. Place all the chicken breasts on a serving platter, sprinkle with some chopped parsley.  You can drizzle the saffron sauce over the chicken or serve on the side, your choice.  

    Frequently asked questions:

    • How long can I store the chicken in the refrigerator? Once it has completely cooled you can store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
    • Can I freeze the cooked chicken? Yes, wrap it tightly in a freezer bag after it has cooled. You can freeze it for 2-3 months when properly stored.
    • Can I freeze the saffron cream sauce? I would not. It will separate or split once it thaws and have a grainy texture. It is edible but not an optimal texture.
    • How do I reheat the chicken? Reheat the chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes per breast. Stop to flip over every 30-45 seconds until hot. Once reheated do not cool and store again in the refrigerator, consume it right away. So only reheat the amount you will consume.

    I think you will enjoy making this delicious chicken in creamy saffron sauce. After all, saffron is a winner in my book, and chicken? Well you can never go  wrong with chicken, or cream! right?

    Moroccan saffron chicken is a slow roasted dish you can make in a dutch oven, slow cooker or tagine.   Here is a version of a Persian rice dish (Albalou Polow) that is made with sour cherries but I like to use dried cranberries in mine.  Here is a low carb creamy cauliflower soup with saffron to try on a cold winter day.

    Looking for more recipes?  
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    Chicken in creamy saffron sauce on a white plate.

    Chicken in Creamy Saffron Sauce Recipe

    Love this recipe! Try a creamy saffron sauce for your next chicken meal. You will love this creamy saffron sauce smothering your tender chicken breasts! 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: baked, cream, deglaze, pan fry, pan sauce, sauce, wine
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 371kcal
    Author: Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    Chicken:

    • 2 ½ lbs chicken breast
    • 1 tsp Kosher salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper cracked
    • ⅛ tsp nutmeg
    • 2 egg beaten
    • 1 cup flour
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil for pan frying

    Sauce:

    • 1 Tbsp olive oil
    • 1 shallot minced
    • 1 garlic clove minced
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • ½ cup white wine
    • ½ tsp saffron

    Garnish:

    • 2 Tbsp curly parsley fresh, chopped

    Instructions

    Prepare the chicken:

    • Preheat oven to 200°F.
    • Cut each chicken breast half into two pieces width wise. Lightly pound each piece to about ¼" thickness. Tip: Place between plastic wrap that has been sprinkled with a little water makes it pound out easier.
    • In a small bowl mix together the salt, pepper and nutmeg.
    • Place beaten egg and flour in two separate shallow bowls ( a couple of pie pans work very well).
    • Add salt mixture to flour and mix well.
    • Dip the chicken breasts into the egg and then into the flour until they are well coated.
    • Heat oil in a shallow frying pan. Use only enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
    • Fry each chicken breast piece for about 3-4 minutes on each side. You might have to add some oil for every batch of chicken breasts you cook.
    • Place the fried chicken breasts in an oven safe platter and place in oven to keep warm while cooking all the chicken and preparing the sauce.

    Prepare the pan sauce:

    • In the same pan, on medium heat sauté the shallot and garlic until shallot is translucent. Deglaze with wine. Scrape up the little bits and continue to cook until most of the wine has evaporated. Add the cream, and saffron. Cook sauce on low for about 5-10 minutes or until it thickens to coat the back of a spoon when wiped or nappe consistency.
      .
    • Remove the sauce from the heat and place in a serving bowl.
    • Bring the chicken breasts out of the oven and pour saffron sauce over the chicken breasts.
    • Sprinkle with parsley.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 162mg | Sodium: 481mg | Potassium: 599mg | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1.6mg

    Originally published July 2016 and updated January 2021.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elyss

      July 25, 2016 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      That's very similar to a dish I've been cooking for a long time. Try adding a ¼ teaspoon each of cumin and paprika (or more, to taste) and fry with the shallots, and substitute dry sherry for half the wine for a very Spanish sauce! I also serve this with salmon. If my family had anything to do with it,it would be served with everything!

      Reply
    2. laura@motherwouldknow

      July 25, 2016 at 9:31 pm

      I love saffron and have a lovely batch that I just got from a trip to Hungary. I'll have enough for paella and then plenty left over for this beautiful recipe. Can't wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 26, 2016 at 8:35 am

        Hope you like it!
        Paella!!!!!! I've been thinking about making a paella lately. It is one of my favorite dishes.
        My saffron came from Turkey. The daughter of one of my mother in law's friends travels to Turkey for business ( she is in the intelligence field). She always brings back lots of saffron. I get to enjoy her surplus. 🙂

        Reply
    3. swathi

      September 18, 2016 at 9:41 pm

      Chicken in creamy saffron sauce looks delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning. tweeting.

      Reply
      • Analida

        September 19, 2016 at 4:17 pm

        You are welcome Swathi. Thanks for pinning, tweeting and hopping.

        Reply
    4. Michelle

      February 23, 2017 at 8:01 am

      I adore saffron. It is definitely well worth the money! And I love cream sauces too...this looks delicious! Pinned!

      Reply
      • Analida

        February 24, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        Thanks Michelle! My sister was recently in Turkey and brought me back some saffron. It is out of this world.

        Reply
    5. Robbyn

      July 08, 2018 at 6:57 pm

      We were in England quiet a few years ago and had a delicious chicken saffron dish. I am hoping this recipe will taste the same. I have never bought saffron before. Can you tell me, is it available at any supermarket or should I look for it elsewhere? Is it a powder or will I find it in threads? I am not sure what to look for. Thank you so much for posting this recipe it looks wonderful.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 09, 2018 at 10:43 am

        Hi Robbyn,
        Thanks for the comment. You should buy saffron in threads. Many grocery stores will sell it this way and I also wrote on article about saffron here if you want to check it out. https://ethnicspoon.com/saffron/
        Let me know how you like the dish.

        Reply

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    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

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