Description
This creamy garlic butter chicken recipe offers tender, juicy chicken breasts smothered in a rich and flavorful garlic butter cream sauce. Perfect for a comforting dinner, this easy-to-make dish combines simple ingredients like garlic, butter, cream, and Italian herbs to create a luscious sauce that pairs wonderfully with chicken. Ideal for family meals or dinner parties, it’s a delicious way to elevate everyday chicken breasts.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (About 1.5 lbs total)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh parsley, chopped, to garnish
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Begin by seasoning the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side until fully cooked and internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic in butter: Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add the butter. Let it melt completely before adding the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add chicken broth: Pour in the chicken broth slowly, bringing it to a simmer. Scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits for extra flavor.
- Create the cream sauce: Whisk in the heavy cream and dried Italian herbs. Stir continuously and let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon the creamy sauce over them, and let them simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes to heat through.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper as needed to suit your preference.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the dish before serving to add a fresh, vibrant touch.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to safe internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half, though the sauce may be less rich.
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, or rice.
- Fresh garlic can be replaced with garlic powder if needed, but freshness enhances flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying and simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
Keywords: garlic butter chicken, creamy chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, Italian herb chicken, pan-seared chicken breasts
