Pollo a la Crema Recipe – Mexican Inspired Creamy Chicken

Want an easy weeknight meal you can make in one pot? If so, you will love this pollo a la crema recipe.

This dish features chunks of white meat chicken with mushrooms, onions, and green peppers in a Mexican cream sauce. The recipe is also known as “pollo con crema” and “pollo en crema”.

There is no need to order Mexican take-out, when you can have this recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Keep reading to find out how to make restaurant-style pollo a la crema Mexicana at home.

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Ingredients for pollo a la crema

To make this Mexican-inspired dish, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound of boneless chicken breast
• Salt and cracked black pepper
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 cup of cremini mushrooms
• 1 cup of green pepper
• 1 tablespoon of smoked Spanish paprika
• 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon granules
• 1 cup of crema Mexicana
• Red pepper flakes (optional for extra heat)
• Fresh parsley, to garnish

Note about crema Mexicana

Crema Mexicana is a creamy, cultured dairy product with a rich, slightly sweet and tangy flavor.

This recipe tastes best if you use crema Mexicana. However, if you don’t have crema Mexicana, you can substitute it with crème fraîche thinned with lime juice or sour cream thinned with water. 

How to make pollo a la crema

Start by chopping your chicken and vegetables. Cut the chicken into 1 1/2 inch cubes. Season well with salt and cracked black pepper.

Slice the green peppers, onions and mushrooms into thick slices that are roughly the same size. Slicing your vegetables this way will ensure that they cook evenly.

Heat your olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they start to brown.

Add the sliced onions to the pan with the chicken and cook until the onions become translucent.

Stir in the sliced mushrooms and green peppers and continue cooking until the vegetables are cooked but still slightly firm.

Making the Mexican cream sauce for chicken

The chicken crema sauce is easy to make and prepared in the same pan.

Sprinkle the smoked Spanish paprika and chicken bouillon granules over the chicken and vegetables. Mix well to combine.

This sauce is mild and creamy. If you prefer more heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes into the mixture.

Pour in the crema Mexicana and reduce the heat to low. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes, while stirring.

The sauce might look thin at first, but it will thicken up as it rests.

Plate the dish and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve it with with Mexican rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas for a tasty weeknight meal.

One of the nice features of this recipe is that everything is cooked in one pot, so clean up is easy when you are done making the chicken con crema.

Tasting chicken a la crema

This one-pan pollo a la crema is creamy and decadent. It has a mild flavor, with a hint of warm, smoky notes from the Spanish paprika. 

The dish will have your family asking you to make it again, and again.

It’s not a particularly spicy Mexican dish, but if you want an extra kick of heat, you could add jalapeno peppers or red pepper flakes to the dish.

More Mexican-inspired dishes to try

If you liked this recipe, be sure to check out these as well:

• Seasoned Cauliflower Rice –A healthy side dish that tastes great with pollo a la crema.
• Gluten Free Mexican Chori Pollo – Another Mexican restaurant favorite.
• Mexican Style Stuffed Peppers – A healthy and flavorful dinner recipe.

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The best pollo a la crema recipe is creamy, comforting, and packed with flavor. The mushrooms, green pepper & onions complement the Mexican crema sauce beautifully. Head to The Gardening Cook for the one-pot recipe.🍗🫑🧅🍄… Share on X

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Admin note: This recipe for pollo en crema first appeared on the blog in July 2013. I have updated the post to add all new photos, a printable recipe card, and a video for you to enjoy.

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Yield: 4 portions of pollo con crema

Pollo con Crema Recipe

Print

This delicious recipe for pollo a la crema will rival that of your favorite Mexican restaurant.

It is easy to prepare and made in one pot. Best of all, this recipe is on the table in less than 30 minutes. Why go out for Mexican takeout when you can quickly make this delicious recipe at home?

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 16 minutes

Total Time 21 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound of boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
• Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
• 1 yellow onion, thickly sliced
• 1 cup of cremini mushrooms, cut into thick slices
• 1 cup of green pepper, cut into thick strips
• 1 tablespoon of smoked Spanish paprika
• 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon granules
• 1 cup of crema Mexicana
• Fresh parsley - to garnish
• Red pepper flakes, optional

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Season the chicken with salt and fresh cracked black pepper.
3. Add the chunks of chicken to the pan and cook until the chicken starts to brown, about 2-3 minutes.
4. In the same pan, add the onions and cook until they become translucent.
5. Stir in the green pepper strips and mushroom slices. Cook until the vegetables are still firm but cooked, and the chicken is no longer pink. This takes about 5-7 minutes.
6. Add the smoked Spanish paprika and chicken bouillon granules. Stir to combine well. If you are adding red pepper flakes for extra heat, sprinkle them in now.
7. Stir the crema Mexicana into the pan, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the chicken is tender.
8. The mixture might look thin, but it will thicken up as it sits.
9. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve with warmed flour tortillas, refried beans, and Spanish rice.

Notes

This recipe works best with crema Mexicana. However, if you don't have crema Mexicana, you can substitute crème fraiche thinned with lime juice, or sour cream thinned with water.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  GreenPan Valencia Pro Hard Anodized 3 Piece Fry Pan Skillet Set
• 
  Cacique Crema Mexicana - Table Cream, 15oz
• 
  HERB-OX Chicken Granules Boullion (12/4oz)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 411Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 147mgSodium: 904mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 38g

Nutritional information is approximate due to natural variation in ingredients and the cook-at-home nature of our meals.

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