Description

Creamy Garlic Chicken is a delicious and comforting skillet dish featuring tender, Italian-seasoned chicken breasts seared to perfection and served in a rich, creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. The sauce is made with caramelized whole garlic cloves, chicken broth, and heavy cream, creating a luscious coating that’s perfect over mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 teaspoons Italian seasonings
⅓ cup flour
4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil

Sauce

2 ½ cups chicken broth
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon)
1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce (or Worcestershire sauce)
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon mustard powder
3 tablespoons butter
10 whole cloves garlic
3 tablespoons flour
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

Prep Work: Combine chicken broth, bouillon cube, soy sauce, onion powder, mustard powder, and dried thyme in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. On a plate, combine flour and 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese for dredging. Measure out remaining ingredients so all are ready before cooking.
Prepare Chicken: Slice each chicken breast lengthwise to create 2-3 thinner cutlets. Cover with plastic wrap and gently pound with the textured side of a meat mallet until about ½ inch thick. Pat chicken completely dry with paper towels.
Season and Dredge: Season both sides of each chicken cutlet with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken lightly in the flour-Parmesan mixture, tapping off excess to prevent clumps.
Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, sear the chicken for 4-5 minutes per side, or until a golden brown crust forms and chicken is nearly cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Make Sauce Base: Lower heat to medium or medium-low and melt butter in the same skillet. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the pan’s bottom, adding flavor to the sauce. Add whole garlic cloves to the butter and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until garlic softens and caramelizes.
Add Flour: Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of flour into the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to eliminate the raw flour taste.
Add Broth Mixture: Gradually add the reserved chicken broth mixture in splashes, stirring continuously to avoid lumps and create a smooth sauce.
Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and bring the sauce to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is creamy.
Simmer Chicken: Return the seared chicken along with any juices accumulated on the plate back into the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken, cover the skillet partially, and simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors and ensure chicken is cooked through.
Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans for a complete meal.

Notes

To ensure even cooking, pound chicken breasts to uniform thickness before cooking.
Use low sodium chicken broth and soy sauce to control salt levels in the dish.
Whole garlic cloves provide a mellow, sweet garlic flavor after caramelizing – you may mash them into the sauce if desired.
If you prefer thicker sauce, let it simmer uncovered a bit longer or add a slurry of flour and water.
Substitute butter with olive oil for a dairy-free version but sauce will be less rich.
Leftover chicken can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: creamy garlic chicken, Italian chicken, skillet chicken, Parmesan chicken, creamy chicken sauce