There are so many ways to serve chicken for dinner, and one of the easiest ways to add variety is with a pan sauce. This recipe for chicken Gloria is all about the delicious cream sauce. The sauce is velvety-smooth, but because it is made with heavy cream and chicken broth it’s not too heavy. What sets it apart is the addition of dry sherry to the sauce. This fortified wine adds a complex and nutty flavour to the sauce that makes this easy weeknight dinner taste oh-so special.
Chicken Gloria reportedly dates back to the Betty Crocker test kitchens during the 1950s or 1960s. This dish is made of breaded and seared chicken breasts, sautéed mushrooms, gooey Muenster cheese, and a sherry-spiked cream sauce. The shortcut of using a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup is a common substitution, but here we’re making a simple white sauce for the most delicious iteration of chicken Gloria.
Why you’ll love it
A guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Between the juicy, cheese-covered chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and the sherry cream sauce, this recipe is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.
So easy to make. This dish comes together in a single pan so that the cleanup is as easy as the cooking.
Key ingredients in chicken Gloria
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Today’s chicken breasts can be large and unevenly thick. Cutting the breasts in half provides four satisfying servings that cook evenly.
Cremini mushrooms: I prefer the savoury flavour of cremini mushrooms, but the white button variety can be used instead.
Heavy cream: This gives the sauce a velvety consistency, but for a lighter sauce use half-and-half. Don’t use whole or low-fat milk, as these dairy products will curdle.
Dry sherry: Sherry is a fortified wine, meaning a neutral-flavoured alcohol is added, extending its shelf life beyond what is typical of a bottle of wine. I don’t recommend using “sherry cooking wine,” which can taste salty and won’t provide the nutty, complex flavour that dry (not sweet) sherry provides.
Muenster cheese: This mild cheese has a buttery flavour and melts beautifully over the chicken.
Chicken Gloria
Serves 4
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total)
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, divided
8 ounces sliced baby bella or cremini mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup dry sherry
4 slices Muenster cheese (about 2 ounces)
Finely chopped fresh parsley leaves, for serving (optional)
- Arrange a rack in the upper third of the oven and heat the oven to 350 F.
- Cut two large boneless, skinless chicken breasts in half horizontally to get four pieces total. Pat dry with paper towels. Season all over with 1 teaspoon of the kosher salt.
- Spread 2 tablespoons of the all-purpose flour into an even layer on a large plate or pie pan. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, lightly coating each side, and shake off any excess flour.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a large, broiler-safe 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer (they can be touching but should not overlap) and cook until browned on each side, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (The chicken might not be cooked through.) Return the chicken to the plate.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add 8 ounces sliced cremini mushrooms, the remaining 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Cook until the mushrooms have released their moisture and are golden-brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. Stir in 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, and 1/4 cup dry sherry. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook until the sauce is thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the pan in a single layer and spoon some of the sauce over each piece. Top each chicken piece with 1 slice Muenster cheese, folding the slices if large.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the chicken registers at least 165 F, 13 to 15 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil until the cheese is lightly browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley leaves if desired.
