Pollo en Crema (or Creamy Chicken) is a favorite dish at my house.
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Creamy is dreamy! The sauce is rich and so good.
What I love most about this recipe is that it’s ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a busy weeknight.
Served with flour tortillas. Simply delicious!
Table of Contents
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs, chicken breasts, or any cut of chicken work for this recipe.
- Olive Oil or any oil of your preference.
- Butter – You can use all butter and no oil. In that case, you will need half a stick of butter. 2 tablespoon to sear the chicken and 2 tablespoon for the sauce.
- Onion and garlic
- Mushrooms – These are white mushrooms, but you can very well use cremini mushrooms or baby portobello.
- Chipotle in Adobo Sauce – or use red pepper flakes to make it less spicy.
- Mexican Crema, sour cream, or heavy cream are good options here.
- Chicken Bouillon – This is a popular ingredient in the Mexican cuisine. Swap out for more salt.
- Salt and pepper
The Name Game
This recipe has many names including “Pollo con Crema,” “Pollo a la Crema,” and “Pollo Encremado.” Or as it is being called here, “Pollo en Crema.”
It’s also is great example of how Mexican food does not always mean spicy food.
Instructions
- Start by adding salt and pepper to the chicken.
- Then searing it in a skillet on medium-high heat.
Tender chicken thighs are more flavorful. Once it is brown on one side, turn the chicken and sear on the other side.
Turning the chicken too early will tear the skin. Give it the time it needs to sear well.
Then remove the chicken. It will not be fully cooked. It’ll finish cooking later.
Another family favorite is Parmesan Oven Fried Chicken.
- Remove the chicken from the pan, and adjust to medium-low heat.
- Melt butter and add onion. Cook for 1 minute.
- Add the mushrooms and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
Do you see that golden color? That means flavor.
It may look dry at first, but the mushrooms will give off liquid, releasing the juices on the bottom of the skillet.
This sauce is similar (but not as spicy) as Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta.
- Add the cream, chipotle, and chicken bouillon. Mix.
- Then return the chicken pieces to the skillet.
- Stir everything to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
If the chicken is not cooked after 5 minutes, add ½ cup of chicken broth. Cover and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes.
Pro Tips
- You can also pour ¼ cup of water to the skillet. If you decide to add water, just know that the cream sauce will be more thin and not as thick.
- You can use heavy whipping cream, Mexican crema, or crema agria (sour cream).
- If you use milk, try using cornstarch diluted in water to thicken up the sauce.
- Be sure to scrape down the sides of the skillet, and don’t forget to taste for salt.
- Herbs you can add to give it more flavor – tarragon, basil, thyme, or parsley.
More Mexican Cream Sauces:
Tell me this Pollo en Crema doesn’t look fantastic! To make it a hearty meal, serve with a side of Arroz Blanco, Refried Beans, and warm tortillas. Buen provecho!
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Pollo en Crema (Creamy Chicken)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ onion diced
- 1 8- ounce container of sliced mushrooms
- 1 garlic clove finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Knorr Selects® Granulated Chicken Flavor Bouillon
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream or crema mexicana
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo finely minced
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil.
- Add salt and pepper to both sides of the chicken.
- Sear the chicken on both sides.
- Remove chicken from pan.
- (Note: Chicken will not be fully cooked).
- Melt butter in the skillet and add onion.
- Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the mushrooms.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic clove, chicken bouillon, whipping cream, and chipotle.
- Stir to combine.
- Return the chicken to the skillet.
- Turn the heat to low.
- Cover and cook for 5 minutes more, or until chicken is fully cooked.
- Serve with rice and veggies.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If you use milk, try using cornstarch diluted in water to thicken up the sauce.
Nutrition
This post was recently updated with new photos. You might remember the old ones.
Hannah Bures
My husband loves this meal! My son and I are not huge fans of mushrooms so when I cook it just for him it makes him feel so special! Thank you for sharing this one!
Maggie Unzueta
I’m sure he loves that you make it for him. How sweet!
laura
this sounds so good. thanks you for sharing this recipe with us. I must give it a try
Maggie Unzueta
Yes you do. So yummy!
Tammy
This looks so good and low carb. Printed and in my recipe book.
Maggie Unzueta
Yes, low carb and delicious. You’re going to love it!
MELANIE E
This sounds like a lovely creamy and tasty recipe. My husband and eldest would love this, especially with the mushrooms.
Maggie Unzueta
My son and love it too. Hope your family enjoys this dish!
Mary Vita
This was easy to make and was delicious!
Maggie Unzueta
Great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! I always love to hear when my recipes turn out well for others.
IceCreamnStickyFingers
Yum. This chicken recipe sounds delicious. I’ll have to make it next week after I make a trip to the grocery store.
Maggie Unzueta
Yes, please do and let me know what you think.
Beautiful Touches
This dish looks so tasty! I’d love to give it a try when I’ve got family over!
Maggie Unzueta
It’s a great dish to entertain because of the sauce. Rich and delicious!
Briana Baker
Yummy! I’m always looking for new and exciting things to do with chicken! Thanks for the recipe!
Maggie Unzueta
Right! Me too. I need more chicken recipes. Hope you enjoy this one.
Richelle Milar
Wow! This is a really amazing recipe! I would definitely gonna try this my family would love this for sure!
Maggie Unzueta
My family loves it. Hope yours does too!
Tara Pittman
My husband would enjoy this recipe. I even have chicken in the freezer.
Maggie Unzueta
That’s the beauty of this recipe. It uses ingredients you might already have in the fridge.
Amber Myers
I am sure my family would enjoy this. It looks like an amazing recipe!
Maggie Unzueta
Thank you! It’s a great recipe, if I say so myself. 🙂
Forever My Little Moon
That chicken looks delicious! I’ll have to try this recipe!
Maggie Unzueta
Yes you do. 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
LisaLisa
This would be a nice change from the usual way we make chicken. We’ll have to give this a try!
Maggie Unzueta
Hope you do. It’s delicious!
Toni
This is really good! A new favorite meal for weeknights!
Maggie Unzueta
Yes. Perfect for weeknights.
Sunrita
Something I can make on a weeknight with ease. Thanks for the idea.
Maggie Unzueta
Yes. This recipe is very easy!