Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken
This is one of those “how is something this easy so good?” dinners. Creamy garlic butter chicken feels like the kind of meal you’d order at a cozy restaurant — the kind where the plates come out steaming and you immediately start plotting how to get every last drop of sauce.
The chicken turns beautifully golden in the skillet, and then the magic happens: butter, garlic, and all those browned bits on the bottom of the pan melt into a silky cream sauce with Parmesan. It smells rich and savory in the best way — garlicky, buttery, and just a little herby. And when you spoon that warm sauce over the chicken? It’s comfort food that tastes like you really tried, even if you didn’t.
This is perfect for weeknights when you want something special, and it’s also a total “company’s coming” kind of dish because it looks impressive with almost no extra work.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter, divided
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Season the Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely.
Season both sides with salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Simple, but it builds a lot of flavor.
2. Sear Until Golden
Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken and sear for about 5–6 minutes per side, until it’s golden brown and cooked through (165°F / 74°C inside).
Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside. Try not to steal a bite yet — the sauce is coming.
3. Make the Garlic Base
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet.
Once it melts, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds. You just want it fragrant — not browned.
4. Deglaze the Pan
Pour in the chicken broth. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up those flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. This is where the real depth comes from.
Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to reduce slightly.
5. Build the Cream Sauce
Stir in the heavy cream, garlic powder, and dried thyme. Let it simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until it thickens just a little.
The sauce should look silky and smell amazing.
6. Add Parmesan
Reduce heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until it melts into the sauce and turns everything smooth and creamy.
Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
7. Return the Chicken
Add the chicken back into the skillet. Spoon the sauce over each piece so it’s nicely coated.
Simmer for 3–5 minutes, just until everything is warmed through and the chicken is bathing in that creamy goodness.
8. Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve hot. The parsley adds a little pop of freshness that balances the richness beautifully.
Presentation
For that “restaurant plate” feel, slice the chicken on a slight angle and fan it out on the plate. Then spoon the sauce over the top so it settles into every slice.
Serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables — anything that can catch extra sauce is a good idea. A final dusting of Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley makes it look polished with almost no effort.
Nutritional Information:
⏰ Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes
🔥 Kcal: Approximately 520 kcal per serving
🍽️ Servings: 4 servings
Conclusion
Creamy garlic butter chicken is one of those recipes that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation. It’s quick, cozy, and full of flavor — and that sauce is honestly the kind you’ll dream about later.
If you’ve got 30 minutes and a skillet, you’ve got dinner. Make it soon, and don’t forget to save a little extra sauce for whoever asks for “just one more spoonful.”