Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe: Simple Home Edit Weeknight Dinner

Struggling to find a weeknight dinner that’s both incredibly delicious and ridiculously easy? You need a meal that wows the family without leaving you with a mountain of dishes. This simple Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe is the answer to that busy weeknight rush.

This Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe is the ultimate one-pan weeknight dinner, ready in under 30 minutes. It features tender, juicy chicken breasts smothered in a rich and savory garlic cream sauce made with Parmesan and heavy cream. It’s a simple, family-friendly meal that delivers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal cleanup.

Drawing from established best practices and a thoroughly tested recipe, this guide breaks down every step. You’ll discover how to achieve perfectly seared, tender chicken and a velvety, rich garlic sauce every single time. Get ready to master your new favorite comforting dinner.

Why Is This Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe the Perfect Weeknight Dinner?

This isn’t just another recipe; it’s a complete solution for the weeknight dinner dilemma. When you’re short on time but don’t want to compromise on flavor, this one pan dinner delivers on every front. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and efficiency—everything comes together in a single skillet, which means cleanup is an absolute breeze. It’s a tested, reader favorite for a reason: it provides the mouthwatering, comforting dinner experience of a restaurant meal with minimal effort. This easy creamy garlic chicken is designed to be a reliable, stress-free weeknight dinner idea that your whole family will ask for again and again.

How to Make the Best Creamy Garlic Chicken (Step-by-Step Guide)

To achieve professional results at home, it’s all about the technique. This foolproof guide breaks the entire process into seven distinct and manageable stages, ensuring you nail this Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe on your first try. We’ll move from preparing the chicken breasts to building that signature garlic cream sauce, explaining the “why” behind each action. By following these steps sequentially, you’ll see how simple it is to layer flavors and create a truly memorable meal. We will cover everything from getting the perfect sear to ensuring your sauce is smooth and velvety, with Pro-Tips along the way to explain the culinary technique behind the magic.

1. Prepare & Season the Chicken

Pin this essential prep step to your ‘Easy Chicken Dinners’ board!

Ingredients for this Step

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced horizontally into 4 thinner cutlets.
• 1 tsp salt.
• 1 tsp sweet paprika.
• 1 tsp onion powder.
• 1/2 tsp black pepper.
• 1 tsp dried thyme.
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, for dredging.

Instructions

1. Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 thinner, even cutlets. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly, key to prevent dry chicken.
2. Pat the chicken cutlets completely dry with paper towels. This step is critical for getting a beautiful golden-brown crust.
3. Combine the salt, paprika, onion powder, pepper, and thyme in a small bowl.
4. Season the chicken generously on both sides with the spice mixture.
5. Dredge each seasoned cutlet in the flour, ensuring a light, even coating on all sides. Tap off any excess.

Pro-Tip: The secret to tender, juicy chicken is pounding the cutlets to an even ½-inch thickness. This prevents the thinner parts from overcooking while the thicker parts come to temperature. It ensures a consistent texture throughout.

2. Sear the Chicken for a Golden Crust

Save this searing technique for perfectly cooked chicken every time!

What You Need

• 1 tbsp olive oil.
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter.
• A large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron or stainless steel recommended).

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. The butter should be fully melted and sizzling.
2. Place the flour-coated chicken cutlets in the hot pan, ensuring not to overcrowd it. Cook in batches if necessary.
3. Sear for 4-6 minutes per side, without moving the chicken, until a deep golden brown crust forms and the chicken is cooked through.
4. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Do not wipe out the pan.

Pro-Tip: Don’t touch the chicken for the first 4 minutes of searing! Letting it cook undisturbed is key to developing the Maillard reaction, which creates hundreds of new flavor compounds and that irresistible deep brown crust. This is the foundation of the sauce’s flavor.

3. Build the Aromatic Garlic Base

The secret to amazing flavor starts here! Pin this tip for later.

What You Need

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter.
• 10-12 fresh garlic cloves, minced or thinly sliced.

Instructions

1. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 1 tbsp of butter to the same skillet.
2. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to lift any browned bits (fond) left from the chicken. This is pure flavor!
3. Sauté the minced garlic, stirring constantly for about 30-60 seconds until it becomes fragrant and turns a very light golden color.

Pro-Tip: Be very careful not to burn the garlic, as it will turn the entire sauce bitter. The moment you can smell its strong, nutty aroma, it’s ready for the next step. If it starts to turn dark brown, it’s gone too far. This is the most critical part of building the umami profile.

4. Deglaze and Create the Creamy Sauce

Want a restaurant-quality sauce? Pin this deglazing technique!

Ingredients for this Step

• 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth.
• 1 cup heavy cream.
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard.

Instructions

1. Deglaze the pan by pouring in the chicken broth. Use your spoon or whisk to scrape all the remaining browned bits from the bottom of the skillet as the broth simmers.
2. Allow the broth to simmer for 1-2 minutes until it has reduced slightly.
3. Pour in the heavy cream and whisk in the Dijon mustard.
4. Stir everything together to create a uniform, creamy white sauce.

Pro-Tip: Deglazing the pan is a non-negotiable step for a deeply flavorful sauce. The browned bits, known as fond, are concentrated flavor from the seared chicken. The broth releases them from the pan and incorporates them into the sauce, creating a rich, complex base that cream alone cannot achieve.

5. Simmer, Thicken, and Add Cheese

Save this tip for the perfect creamy, cheesy sauce!

What You Need

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
• Salt and pepper, to taste.

Instructions

1. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
2. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
3. Remove the skillet from the heat. This is important to prevent the cheese from becoming grainy.
4. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it has completely melted into the sauce.
5. Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Pro-Tip: For the smoothest sauce, always use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses are often coated with anti-caking agents like cellulose, which can prevent them from melting properly and may result in a gritty texture. This is a key detail for viscosity control in your sauce.

6. Combine and Finish the Dish

The final step to a perfect dinner! Pin this for your next meal plan.

What You Need

• The cooked chicken cutlets from Step 2.

Instructions

1. Return the seared chicken cutlets, along with any juices that have collected on the plate, back into the skillet with the sauce.
2. Nestle the chicken into the sauce.
3. Spoon some of the rich garlic sauce over the top of each chicken piece.
4. Simmer gently for 1-2 more minutes to heat the chicken through completely.

Pro-Tip: Don’t discard the juices from the plate where the chicken was resting! This liquid is full of flavor. Adding it back to the pan is a simple way to boost the overall savory, umami profile of the final dish.

7. Garnish and Serve Immediately

Dinner is served! Pin this beautiful meal for inspiration.

What You Need

• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• Optional sides: mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, or steamed green beans.

Instructions

1. Plate the Creamy Garlic Chicken immediately while hot.
2. Garnish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a touch of color and freshness.
3. Serve over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, fresh pasta, or rice to soak up all of the delicious sauce.

Pro-Tip: A final squeeze of fresh lemon juice (optional) just before serving can brighten up all the flavors. The acidity provides a beautiful contrast to the rich, creamy texture of the sauce, making the entire dish feel more vibrant.

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to Creamy Garlic Chicken

• Even Thickness is Key: For tender, juicy chicken, slice breasts into thinner cutlets and pound them to a uniform thickness. This ensures fast, even cooking and is the best way to prevent dry chicken.
• Don’t Skip the Sear: A hot pan and letting the chicken cook undisturbed is essential for the Maillard reaction, which creates the flavorful golden brown crust that forms the foundation of your sauce.
• Flavor is in the Fond: After searing, do not clean the pan. Those brown bits are called fond, and deglazing the pan with chicken broth is the most important step for a restaurant-quality sauce.
• Low Heat for Cream and Cheese: To fix curdled sauce before it starts, always add the heavy cream over medium-low heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese after removing the pan from the heat. This guarantees a smooth, velvety sauce.
• Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: Avoid pre-shredded cheese. Grating your own Parmesan from a block ensures it melts perfectly without the anti-caking agents that can make a sauce gritty.

People Also Ask About Creamy Garlic Chicken

How do you thicken creamy garlic sauce?

The best way to thicken the sauce is by simmering it gently to allow it to reduce naturally. The flour used to dredge the chicken also acts as a thickening agent. If you need it thicker, you can create a slurry by whisking 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water, then slowly stirring it into the simmering sauce until you reach your desired consistency.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Yes, you can absolutely use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe. Chicken thighs are naturally juicier and more forgiving than breasts. You will need to increase the searing time to about 6-8 minutes per side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, to ensure they are fully cooked.

What goes well with creamy garlic chicken?

This dish is best served with something that can soak up the rich, creamy sauce. Classic pairings include creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or a bed of white rice. For a vegetable side, simple steamed green beans, roasted broccoli, or a fresh arugula salad provide a nice contrast.

How do you keep the chicken tender and not dry?

The key to tender chicken is to use thin cutlets of even thickness and not to overcook them. Slicing the breasts horizontally and pounding them to a uniform ½-inch thickness is crucial. Searing over medium-high heat for just 4-6 minutes per side creates a crust while keeping the inside juicy. Always let the chicken rest after searing.

Why is my garlic sauce separating or curdling?

A creamy sauce typically separates if the heat is too high when the dairy is added, or if there’s too much acid. To prevent this, always reduce the heat to low before stirring in the heavy cream. Furthermore, add the Parmesan cheese off the heat, as boiling cheese can cause it to release its oils and turn grainy.

Can I make this creamy garlic chicken recipe dairy-free?

Yes, you can make a dairy-free version, though the texture and flavor will differ. For the butter, use a high-quality vegan butter or olive oil. For the heavy cream, a full-fat canned coconut milk is the best substitute for heavy cream, as its high fat content helps create a creamy texture. Use a high-quality vegan parmesan cheese substitute to finish the sauce.

Is this recipe keto or low-carb?

This recipe is very easy to make keto-friendly and low-carb. The main change is to skip the all-purpose flour for dredging. The chicken will still sear beautifully without it. The rest of the ingredients, including heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and chicken, are naturally low in carbohydrates, making this a great keto friendly dinner.

How do I prevent the garlic from burning?

To prevent burning, cook the garlic over medium-low heat and stir it constantly. Minced garlic cooks very quickly, in as little as 30 seconds. The moment it becomes fragrant and turns a very light golden color, it’s time to deglaze the pan with your liquid. Do not walk away from the pan during this step.

Can I add spinach or mushrooms to the sauce?

Yes, both spinach and mushrooms are excellent additions. For mushrooms, sauté them in the skillet after the chicken is removed and before you add the garlic, until they are golden brown. For spinach, add a few large handfuls into the sauce at the very end and stir until it just wilts, which only takes a minute or two.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store leftover creamy garlic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the chicken and sauce in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce as it heats. Avoid the microwave, as it can make the chicken rubbery and cause the sauce to separate.

Final Thoughts on Your Easy Creamy Garlic Chicken

You now have all the expert tips and techniques to create a truly exceptional homemade creamy garlic chicken. By mastering a few key steps—a proper sear, a flavorful deglaze, and gentle simmering—you can transform simple ingredients into a dish that tastes like it came from a high-end restaurant. This tested recipe proves that a memorable, easy family dinner doesn’t require hours in the kitchen or complicated steps. It’s the perfect combination of elegance and convenience, ready to become a staple in your weeknight rotation. What will you serve with your creamy garlic chicken first?

Last update on 2026-02-21 at 16:39 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API