Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is a comforting dinner made with golden chicken breasts and a rich, flavorful pan sauce. The chicken is seasoned simply, seared until beautifully browned, and finished in a creamy sauce made with fresh garlic, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs.
Although the finished dish looks impressive, it uses familiar ingredients and requires only one skillet. It is an excellent choice for a relaxed family dinner, a weekend meal, or an evening when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.
Serve this creamy chicken with pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread to make the most of the delicious sauce. For a lighter meal, pair it with steamed vegetables or a fresh green salad.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Chicken Recipe
There are plenty of reasons to keep this recipe in your regular dinner rotation:
- It is prepared in one skillet, so cleanup is simple.
- The ingredients are easy to find in most supermarkets.
- It can be ready in approximately 40 minutes.
- The sauce is creamy, savory, and filled with garlic flavor.
- It works well with pasta, rice, potatoes, or vegetables.
- The recipe can be adjusted with spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Leftovers can be stored and reheated for another meal.
The combination of browned chicken, fresh garlic, cream, and Parmesan creates a balanced sauce that feels comforting without requiring a complicated cooking process.
Recipe Information
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Cooking method: Stovetop
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
For the creamy garlic Parmesan sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt, as needed
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, optional
Before You Begin
Chicken breasts cook more evenly when they have a similar thickness. If yours are especially thick, place them between two sheets of parchment paper and gently pound the thicker sections with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
You can also slice two large chicken breasts horizontally to create four thinner pieces. Thin chicken cutlets cook more quickly and are less likely to become dry before the outside develops a golden crust.
For the smoothest sauce, grate the Parmesan from a block. Pre-shredded cheese sometimes contains anti-caking ingredients that prevent it from melting as evenly.
