This easy creamy garlic chicken is a comforting weeknight dinner made with tender chicken breasts, plenty of garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a rich, creamy sauce. Everything comes together in one skillet, making this recipe simple enough for a busy weeknight but delicious enough for a family dinner.
Serve it with mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, or crusty bread to soak up every bit of the creamy garlic sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Garlic Chicken
- Easy one-skillet dinner
- Ready in about 30 minutes
- Tender, juicy chicken
- Rich and creamy garlic sauce
- Uses simple ingredients
- Family-friendly
- Great for busy weeknights
- Easy to serve with pasta, rice, or vegetables
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
How to Make Creamy Garlic Chicken
1. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
If the chicken breasts are very thick, carefully slice them horizontally to create thinner cutlets.
This helps them cook more evenly and quickly.
Season both sides with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
2. Sear the Chicken
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Once the oil is hot, carefully place the seasoned chicken into the skillet.
Cook for approximately 4 to 5 minutes on each side, depending on thickness.
The chicken should develop a golden-brown crust.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a clean plate.
It doesn’t need to be completely finished at this point because it will continue cooking in the sauce.
3. Cook the Garlic
Reduce the heat to medium.
Add butter to the same skillet.
Once melted, add the minced garlic.
Cook for approximately 30 to 60 seconds, stirring constantly.
The garlic should become fragrant but should not turn dark brown.
4. Make the Creamy Sauce
Pour the chicken broth into the skillet.
Use a wooden spoon to gently scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes if using.
Stir everything together.
Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
5. Return the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts back into the skillet.
Spoon some of the creamy garlic sauce over the chicken.
Reduce the heat to medium-low.
Allow the chicken to simmer gently in the sauce for approximately 5 to 8 minutes, or until completely cooked through.
The sauce should thicken slightly as it simmers.
6. Finish the Dish
Check the seasoning and add additional salt or black pepper if needed.
Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken.
For extra Parmesan flavor, add a little more freshly grated Parmesan just before serving.
7. Serve
Serve the chicken immediately with plenty of creamy garlic sauce.
The sauce is especially delicious over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables.
Crusty bread is also perfect for soaking up the extra sauce.
What Makes the Sauce Creamy?
The combination of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese creates the rich, creamy texture.
The browned bits left in the skillet after searing the chicken also add extra flavor to the sauce.
For the smoothest sauce, use freshly grated Parmesan rather than pre-shredded cheese.
Tips for Tender Chicken
Don’t skip drying the chicken. Removing excess moisture helps the chicken brown properly.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary.
Use evenly sized chicken pieces. Similar thickness helps everything cook at the same rate.
Don’t overcook the chicken. Remove it from the skillet once it reaches a safe internal temperature.
Let the chicken simmer gently. High heat can make the sauce separate and the chicken tougher.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Absolutely.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work very well in this recipe and tend to stay especially juicy.
You may need to adjust the cooking time depending on their size.
Bone-in chicken thighs can also be used, but they will require a longer cooking time.
Can I Use Half-and-Half Instead of Heavy Cream?
Yes.
Half-and-half can be used for a lighter sauce.
The finished sauce will be less rich and may not become quite as thick as a sauce made with heavy cream.
How to Prevent the Cream Sauce From Curdling
Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer rather than a rapid boil.
High heat can cause dairy-based sauces to separate.
Adding the cream after the broth and maintaining medium-low heat helps create a smooth sauce.
Easy Variations
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Add sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach to the sauce.
Mushroom Garlic Chicken
Sauté sliced mushrooms after cooking the chicken and before adding the garlic.
Spinach Garlic Chicken
Add several handfuls of fresh baby spinach during the final few minutes of cooking.
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice at the end for a bright flavor.
Spicy Garlic Chicken
Increase the red pepper flakes for a little extra heat.
Broccoli Garlic Chicken
Add lightly steamed broccoli during the final few minutes.
What to Serve With Creamy Garlic Chicken
This chicken pairs well with many sides.
Try serving it with:
- Mashed potatoes
- White rice
- Garlic bread
- Pasta
- Egg noodles
- Roasted potatoes
- Steamed broccoli
- Green beans
- Roasted asparagus
- Simple green salad
For an easy weeknight meal, serve the chicken over pasta with a simple green salad on the side.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow the chicken and sauce to cool before transferring them to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
When reheating, use low to medium heat and add a small splash of chicken broth or cream if the sauce has thickened too much.
Avoid boiling the sauce during reheating.
Can I Freeze Creamy Garlic Chicken?
This recipe is best enjoyed fresh.
Cream-based sauces can sometimes change texture after freezing and thawing.
If you do freeze it, cool the chicken completely and store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently.
The sauce may require a small amount of cream or broth to restore its consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe with chicken tenders?
Yes. Chicken tenders cook faster, so reduce the cooking time and monitor them carefully.
Can I use pre-minced garlic?
Yes, but freshly minced garlic generally provides a stronger and fresher flavor.
Can I make this without Parmesan?
Yes. The sauce will still be creamy, but Parmesan adds saltiness and helps thicken the sauce.
What type of Parmesan should I use?
Freshly grated Parmesan melts more smoothly than many pre-shredded varieties.
Can I add vegetables?
Absolutely. Spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes all work well.
How do I know when the chicken is cooked?
The thickest part of the chicken should reach 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Recipe Card
Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Cuisine: American
Course: Dinner
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
- Sear chicken for about 4 to 5 minutes per side.
- Transfer chicken to a plate.
- Add butter and minced garlic to the skillet.
- Cook garlic for 30 to 60 seconds.
- Add chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits.
- Add heavy cream, Parmesan, paprika, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Final Thoughts
This creamy garlic chicken is exactly the kind of dinner I love making when I want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.
The chicken turns beautifully golden in the skillet, and those flavorful browned bits become part of the creamy Parmesan garlic sauce.
Serve it over pasta or mashed potatoes, add a simple vegetable on the side, and you have a cozy family dinner that feels much more special than the amount of work it takes.
From my kitchen to yours, enjoy! ❤️
— Mary