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.
Amy B.
Mushrooms and chicken are my favorite and that creamy sauce was delicious!
Maggie Unzueta
The cream sauce is my favorite part of this dish.
Nora
Thank you for sharing this recipe! Made it yesterday and it was delicious!
Maggie Unzueta
So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Susan
Loving all the mushrooms in this sauce!
Maggie Unzueta
Me too. So yummy!
Emily Flint
This creamy chicken sounds amazing, I can’t wait to try it!
Maggie Unzueta
Hope you do. It’s delicious!
Jeri
What a delicious dish and I loved that it only took 30 minutes!
Maggie Unzueta
Yes, 30 minute meals are my kind of meals.
Liz
The family really loved this one!
Maggie Unzueta
So glad they enjoyed it!
Anna
Delicious and easy to make recipe, just what I was looking for!
Maggie Unzueta
That’s awesome. Glad I could help.
Sue
So good and truly a perfect weeknight meal!
Maggie Unzueta
Yes indeed. Love this dish!
Anaiah
Oh my goodness, this chicken looks perfectly creamy and delicious. I love all the mushrooms inside. Looking forward to making this for dinner!
Maggie Unzueta
It so is. Thank you!
Jeannie
this recipe is so delicious and easy to prepare.
Maggie Unzueta
I’m all about easy recipes. 🙂
Amy
Yup you were right! A great recipe for a midweek dinner. Will definitely be making it again!
Maggie Unzueta
That’s great. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
serena
So perfect for a weeknight meal. Quick and easy
Maggie Unzueta
The best combo quick and easy! Enjoy. 🙂
Swathi
This creamy chicken looks delicious
Maggie Unzueta
It so is! Hope you give this recipe a try.
Kris
My family thought it was delicious
Maggie Unzueta
Glad to hear that your family loved it. Made my day!!
Ada
For more delicious flavor you can add loroco flowers that are sale in Northgate too
Diana
This is real comfort food. I love creamy mushrooms, I top everything with them haha even grains!
Maggie Unzueta
Right! Me too. Pollo en Crema is such an easy and delicious dish.
Debra
A bit of nostalgia right here for me. My mother made something similar when I was growing up. I think she used a can of cream of mushroom soup though. I love your homemade alternative and the fact that it’s quick and simple. Thank you.
Maggie Unzueta
Awww… that’s what my husband said when he tasted my Pollo en Crema. I guess we just have different names for similar dishes.
Jen
This looks absolutely delicious! I love chicken and mushrooms together!
Maggie Unzueta
It’s the best combination!
Limitless Allergies
Creamy chicken is my favorite and your recipe looks easy to make
Maggie Unzueta
I love easy recipes. Pollo en Crema is soooo tasty too!
Catherine Brown
https://www.chefcatherinebrown.com/single-post/2017/12/26/Shaved-Brussels-Sprout-Pear-and-Pomegranate-SalaOMG, that mushroom sauce looks to-die-for! So creamy and flavorful… can’t wait to try this! 🙂