Description
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is a rich and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked in a luscious garlic-infused cream sauce with Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs. This easy-to-make recipe combines simple ingredients into a comforting, restaurant-quality meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Sauce
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides evenly with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to build foundational flavor.
- Heat the fats and cook the chicken: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil and butter. Once the butter has melted and is sizzling, carefully add the seasoned chicken breasts to the skillet.
- Sear the chicken: Cook the chicken breasts until they turn golden brown and are cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
- Deglaze with broth: Pour in the chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Allow the broth to simmer and reduce by half, intensifying its flavor.
- Add cream and cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Continue stirring over medium heat until the cheese fully melts and the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency.
- Season the sauce: Add the Italian seasoning and taste the sauce. Adjust seasoning by adding more salt and black pepper if needed to balance flavors.
- Finish cooking chicken in sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet with the sauce, spooning the sauce over the top. Let the chicken simmer gently in the sauce for 3 to 4 minutes to meld flavors and heat through.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken for a pop of color and fresh herb aroma before serving hot.
Notes
- For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese as pre-grated cheese often contains additives that affect melting.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can simmer it a few minutes longer or add a small slurry of cornstarch and water.
- This dish pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables to soak up the creamy sauce.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and can be gently reheated on the stovetop.
