This keto garlic butter chicken is a simple, flavorful skillet dinner made with juicy chicken breasts, butter, fresh garlic, Parmesan, lemon, and herbs.
The chicken is seared until golden, then finished in a rich garlic butter sauce that coats every piece. It’s an easy dinner that comes together in about 30 minutes and pairs beautifully with low-carb vegetables.
Serve it with roasted broccoli, cauliflower rice, zucchini, asparagus, or a fresh green salad for a satisfying keto-friendly dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Keto Garlic Butter Chicken
- Easy 30-minute dinner
- Low-carb ingredients
- Made in one skillet
- Juicy and flavorful chicken
- Rich garlic butter sauce
- Simple everyday ingredients
- Great for busy weeknights
- Easy to customize
- Pairs well with vegetables
- Perfect for meal prep
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
How to Make Keto Garlic Butter Chicken
1. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
If the chicken breasts are thick, carefully slice them horizontally into thinner cutlets or gently pound them to an even thickness.
This helps them cook more evenly.
2. Season the Chicken
Place the chicken on a plate or in a shallow dish.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Combine paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Sprinkle the seasoning evenly over both sides of the chicken.
3. Heat the Skillet
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the olive oil and allow it to heat.
A properly heated skillet helps the chicken develop a flavorful golden-brown exterior.
4. Sear the Chicken
Place the seasoned chicken into the skillet.
Cook for approximately 4–6 minutes on the first side.
Turn the chicken and cook for another 4–6 minutes, depending on thickness.
The chicken should be golden brown and cooked through.
The thickest part should reach 165°F.
Transfer the chicken to a clean plate.
5. Make the Garlic Butter
Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low.
Add the butter.
Once melted, add the minced garlic.
Cook for approximately 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
Don’t let the garlic become dark brown.
6. Add the Broth and Cream
Pour the chicken broth into the skillet.
Use a wooden spoon to gently scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Add the heavy cream and Italian seasoning.
Stir until the sauce is combined.
7. Add Parmesan
Reduce the heat to low.
Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Stir gently until the cheese melts into the sauce.
The sauce should become creamy and slightly thickened.
8. Add Lemon and Red Pepper
Stir in fresh lemon juice.
Add red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
The lemon adds brightness and balances the richness of the butter and cream.
9. Return the Chicken
Place the cooked chicken back into the skillet.
Spoon the garlic butter sauce over each piece.
Let the chicken simmer gently in the sauce for about 2–3 minutes.
10. Garnish
Turn off the heat.
Sprinkle fresh parsley over the chicken.
Add a little extra Parmesan if desired.
11. Serve
Serve the chicken warm with your favorite low-carb side dishes.
Spoon plenty of the garlic butter sauce over the chicken before serving.
How Do I Keep the Chicken Juicy?
Avoid overcooking the chicken.
Cutting thick breasts into thinner, even pieces helps them cook more consistently.
Use an instant-read thermometer and remove the chicken once the thickest part reaches 165°F.
Letting the chicken rest briefly before serving also helps retain moisture.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs?
Yes.
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work particularly well in this recipe.
They have a richer flavor and tend to stay juicy during cooking.
Adjust the cooking time based on the size of the pieces.
Can I Make This Without Heavy Cream?
Yes.
You can make a simpler garlic butter sauce using chicken broth, butter, Parmesan, and garlic.
The sauce will be lighter and less creamy but still flavorful.
Can I Use Half-and-Half?
Yes, although heavy cream produces a thicker and richer sauce.
If using half-and-half, keep the heat relatively low to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or separating.
Is Parmesan Necessary?
No.
Parmesan adds savory flavor and helps thicken the sauce, but you can leave it out.
For a dairy-free version, use an appropriate dairy-free butter and omit the Parmesan and cream.
Easy Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Variations
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Increase the Parmesan and add extra heavy cream for a richer sauce.
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Add extra lemon juice and fresh lemon zest.
Spicy Garlic Butter Chicken
Add red pepper flakes and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
Mushroom Garlic Butter Chicken
Sauté sliced mushrooms in the skillet before preparing the sauce.
Spinach Garlic Butter Chicken
Add fresh spinach to the sauce during the final few minutes of cooking.
Broccoli Garlic Butter Chicken
Add steamed broccoli to the skillet and coat it with the garlic butter sauce.
Cajun Garlic Butter Chicken
Replace the regular seasoning with your favorite Cajun seasoning.
Can I Add Vegetables?
Absolutely.
This chicken pairs especially well with low-carb vegetables such as:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Spinach
- Green beans
- Mushrooms
- Brussels sprouts
Roast or sauté the vegetables separately and serve them alongside the chicken.
What Can I Serve With Keto Garlic Butter Chicken?
Try serving this chicken with:
- Cauliflower rice
- Roasted broccoli
- Sautéed spinach
- Garlic butter mushrooms
- Roasted asparagus
- Zucchini noodles
- Green salad
- Steamed green beans
- Mashed cauliflower
Cauliflower rice is especially good because it absorbs the extra garlic butter sauce.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Yes.
Cook the chicken and sauce ahead of time and store them together in an airtight container.
Reheat gently before serving.
For the best texture, avoid repeatedly reheating the chicken.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow the chicken to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Keep the chicken and sauce together so the meat stays moist.
How to Reheat Keto Garlic Butter Chicken
Place the chicken and sauce in a skillet over low heat.
Add a small splash of chicken broth if the sauce has thickened.
Heat gently until warmed through.
Avoid high heat because the cream sauce can separate.
Can I Freeze This Chicken?
The cooked chicken can be frozen, but creamy sauces can sometimes change texture after freezing and thawing.
For best results, freeze the cooked chicken separately and prepare fresh garlic butter sauce when serving.
If freezing the complete dish, thaw slowly in the refrigerator and reheat gently.
How Do I Thicken the Garlic Butter Sauce?
The Parmesan helps naturally thicken the sauce.
You can also simmer the sauce gently for a few extra minutes before returning the chicken.
Avoid adding flour or traditional starch-based thickeners if you want to keep the recipe keto-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this recipe keto-friendly?
The ingredients are selected to create a low-carb dinner, but exact carbohydrate amounts depend on the specific brands and ingredients used. Check nutrition labels if you need to track carbohydrates precisely.
Can I use chicken thighs?
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent substitute.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
Yes. Add cooked chicken to the finished garlic butter sauce and warm gently.
Can I use minced garlic from a jar?
Yes, although freshly minced garlic generally provides a stronger flavor.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes. Use dairy-free butter and cream alternatives and omit Parmesan, checking product labels for compatibility with your dietary needs.
Can I make it spicy?
Yes. Add red pepper flakes, cayenne, or your favorite low-carb hot sauce.
Why did my cream sauce separate?
Very high heat can cause a cream-based sauce to separate. Keep the heat low once the cream and Parmesan are added.
Recipe Card
Keto Garlic Butter Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: About 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Red pepper flakes, optional
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and cut thick breasts into even cutlets if needed.
- Season chicken with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken for 4–6 minutes per side.
- Cook until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Melt butter and add minced garlic.
- Cook for 30–60 seconds.
- Add chicken broth and scrape the browned bits from the pan.
- Stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning.
- Add Parmesan and simmer gently until slightly thickened.
- Add lemon juice and red pepper flakes.
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Spoon sauce over the chicken and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve warm with low-carb vegetables.