Get ready to discover your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken is the perfect marriage of tender, juicy chicken and a rich, velvety garlic butter sauce. It’s a restaurant-quality dish that you can whip up in your own kitchen in under 30 minutes. Forget complicated recipes; this one-pan wonder delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, making it a guaranteed hit with the whole family.
We’ve designed this recipe to be straightforward and foolproof. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your culinary journey, you’ll find these instructions easy to follow. The result is a stunningly delicious meal that tastes like it took hours to prepare.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Incredibly Flavorful: The sauce is the star of the show—a rich combination of butter, fresh garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese that’s simply irresistible.
- Quick & Easy: From prep to plate in under 30 minutes, making it the perfect solution for busy weeknights.
- One-Pan Meal: Fewer dishes to wash is always a win! Everything comes together in a single skillet.
- Highly Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base. Feel free to add spinach, mushrooms, or sun-dried tomatoes to make it your own.
Key Ingredients for Success
The magic of this dish lies in its simple yet high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create the perfect Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken:
- Chicken Breasts: We use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness to ensure they cook quickly and evenly.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is non-negotiable. It provides the aromatic, pungent flavor that defines the sauce.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter to control the dish’s saltiness. It forms the rich base of our sauce.
- Heavy Cream: This is what gives the sauce its signature luxurious, creamy texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese melts beautifully and adds a nutty, salty depth of flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Adds a layer of savory flavor and helps create the right sauce consistency.
- Seasoning: A simple mix of salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning is all you need to perfectly complement the chicken and sauce. For a different twist, you could even try this Cajun seasoning blend.
- Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of fresh parsley at the end adds a touch of color and fresh, peppery flavor.
How to Make Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken
Follow these simple steps to create a dish that will have everyone asking for seconds. It’s all about building layers of flavor in one pan.
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. This ensures the chicken is flavorful on its own before it even meets the sauce.
Step 2: Sear to Perfection
In a large skillet, melt two tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter is shimmering, add the chicken breasts. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
Step 3: Build the Creamy Garlic Sauce
In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30-60 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn. Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom—this is where the flavor is! Bring the broth to a simmer and let it reduce by about half.
Step 4: Make It Creamy
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and has slightly thickened. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5: Combine and Serve
Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the creamy sauce over them. Let them simmer gently in the sauce for a couple of minutes to warm through and soak up all that incredible flavor. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Pro Tips for the Best Results
- Don’t Crowd the Pan: Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to ensure each piece gets a beautiful golden-brown sear.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, use freshly minced garlic and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Pre-packaged versions often contain anti-caking agents that can prevent the sauce from becoming perfectly smooth.
- Control the Heat: When you add the cream and cheese, make sure the heat is low to prevent the sauce from curdling or separating.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also incredibly versatile. Here are a few ideas to switch things up:
- Add Veggies: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach or some sautéed mushrooms along with the garlic for a nutritional boost. Sun-dried tomatoes also add a wonderful tangy flavor.
- Make it a Pasta Dish: This sauce is heavenly tossed with your favorite pasta. For a fully integrated dish, check out our Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo recipe.
- Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a gentle kick of heat.
- Cheesy Twist: For an extra layer of cheesy goodness, try our popular creamy garlic parmesan chicken (coming soon) recipe. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
What to Serve with Creamy Garlic Chicken
This dish pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Serve it over pasta, fluffy rice, or creamy mashed potatoes to soak up every last drop of the sauce. For a lighter option, it’s fantastic with steamed asparagus, roasted broccoli, or a simple green salad like this refreshing beet and feta salad (coming soon).
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftover Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce if needed. Avoid reheating in the microwave, as it can make the chicken rubbery and cause the sauce to separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully. They are naturally more juicy and forgiving. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly, ensuring they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
The key is to manage your heat. Make sure to lower the temperature to low before adding the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Whisk gently and constantly, and do not let the sauce come to a boil after the dairy has been added.
If your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like, you can let it simmer on low for a few more minutes to reduce further. You can also make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water and slowly whisking it into the sauce until it thickens.
This recipe is very versatile! You can add sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or a few handfuls of fresh spinach (stir it in until it wilts). For a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
For best results, reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of milk or chicken broth to help loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture. This method prevents the chicken from becoming tough and the sauce from separating.
Enjoy Your New Favorite Chicken Dish!
We hope you love this Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken recipe as much as we do! It’s a dish that proves simple ingredients can create something truly spectacular. If you make it, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or share a photo of your creation on Pinterest!
Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken: The Ultimate 30-Minute Meal
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer and allow it to reduce by half.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk constantly until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes to heat through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Tip 2: Pound the chicken to an even thickness to ensure it cooks evenly.
Tip 3: Keep the heat on low when adding the cream and cheese to prevent the sauce from curdling.
