Description
Cream Cheese Chicken is a rich and creamy skillet chicken recipe featuring tender boneless chicken breasts or thighs simmered in a luscious cream cheese and heavy cream sauce, enhanced with garlic, Italian seasoning, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This comforting American main course is quick to prepare and perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Sauce and Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the Garlic: Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Deglaze and Make Sauce Base: Pour in chicken broth, stirring to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the cream cheese and stir until it starts melting and smoothens into a creamy sauce.
- Add Cream and Spices: Stir in heavy cream, dried Italian seasoning, and paprika, mixing until fully combined and the sauce is creamy.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over each piece. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken. Cover again and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until cheeses have melted thoroughly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat, garnish the dish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately with your choice of rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes into the sauce while simmering.
- If the sauce becomes too thick during cooking, stir in a splash of chicken broth to loosen it.
- This dish pairs well with rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes to soak up the creamy sauce.
