This creamy garlic chicken is a rich, comforting one-pan dinner made with tender chicken breasts or thighs simmered in a silky garlic Parmesan cream sauce. Packed with bold garlic flavor and ready in about 30 minutes, it’s an easy restaurant-style meal perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
Ingredients
- Main Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken breasts or thighs pounded to even thickness
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 5 –6 cloves garlic minced
- Seasonings & Flavor
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Pantry Staples
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Sear the Chicken
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken and sear 4–5 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the Garlic
- Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic to the same pan and sauté 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Deglaze the Pan
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Make the Sauce
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Simmer 3–5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Finish the Dish
- Return chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over the top and simmer 2–3 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F.
- Serve
- Garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Bring cream close to room temperature for smoother sauce.
- Garlic cooks quickly—don’t let it brown.
- Sauce thickens more as it rests.