Description
A quick and flavorful creamy garlic chicken recipe featuring tender pan-seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich, garlicky cream sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs or 680g)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (120ml) chicken broth
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry. Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and cover loosely.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Melt butter, add minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Scrape bits from the bottom.
- Add chicken broth to deglaze, simmer for 2-3 minutes. Pour in heavy cream, Parmesan, and Italian herbs. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened (3-4 minutes).
- Return chicken and juices to the skillet. Simmer in the sauce for 3-4 minutes, spooning sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Notes
- For juicier chicken, pound breasts to an even thickness before cooking.
- Use half-and-half for a lighter sauce, but it will be less thick.
- Double the sauce to serve over pasta or vegetables.
- For Keto: Omit Parmesan or use a dairy-free alternative; serve with low-carb sides.
- For Mushroom variation: Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms with the garlic.
- For Spicy variation: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Cool leftovers completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently. Freezing is not recommended.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta. Pair with steamed vegetables or a salad.
- Don’t let garlic burn. Cook until just fragrant.
- Let chicken rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smoother sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420cal
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 0mg