Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe for Easy Weeknight Dinner

Introduction

A Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe is the answer to those busy weeknights when you want maximum flavor in minimal time. Juicy, lightly seared chicken breasts are nested in a lush, garlic-infused cream sauce that tastes straight out of a restaurant kitchen. It’s a true crowd-pleaser that pairs beautifully with rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables, making it a versatile centerpiece for any dinner table.

The Magic of Creamy Garlic Chicken

This recipe shines because of its irresistible balance of savory, zesty garlic and rich, velvety cream. The sauce clings perfectly to each piece of tender chicken, turning simple staples into an extraordinary meal. The best part? It comes together in one skillet with just a handful of pantry ingredients, reducing cleanup and guaranteeing big results in under 30 minutes.

Building the Creamy Garlic Sauce

The secret to this dish is slowly sautéing fresh, minced garlic in butter to unlock its sweet and aromatic notes. Once softened, heavy cream and parmesan cheese are added to create a luscious, velvety sauce. The flavors meld together as the chicken simmers, ensuring every bite is infused with garlicky goodness—no extra complicated steps required.

How to Assemble the Dish

Quickly pan-seared chicken breasts are returned to the skillet of bubbling garlic cream sauce, where they gently finish cooking and soak up maximum flavor. The beauty of this method lies in its simplicity—just a handful of steps deliver juicy, flavorful chicken, ready to serve straight from the pan. For a finishing touch, a sprinkle of fresh parsley or cracked black pepper adds color and a hit of freshness.

Serving Suggestions for Creamy Garlic Chicken

Serve this Creamy Garlic Chicken over cooked pasta, fluffy rice, or with a side of roasted veggies for a comforting, balanced meal. For an elevated dinner, pair it with warm, crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce—every last drop is worth savoring.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes 4 hearty servings. Each serving contains roughly 420 calories, balanced between lean protein and a modest amount of rich, creamy sauce. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream without sacrificing flavor.

Creamy Garlic Chicken (Recap)

Easy enough for weeknights yet elegant enough for company, this Creamy Garlic Chicken delivers comforting, bold flavors with little fuss. Its dreamy texture and aromatic flavor make it an instant favorite, guaranteeing dinner table satisfaction.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free meal planning.

Instructions

1. Season and Sear the Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
2. Sauté Garlic: Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
3. Make the Cream Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese, stirring until smooth and creamy (about 2–3 minutes).
4. Combine and Simmer: Return chicken breasts and any juices to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken, cover, and simmer for 4–6 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens.
5. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with fresh parsley and, if desired, a dash of red pepper flakes. Serve hot with your favorite sides.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe is ideal for strategic meal prepping. Save and schedule this recipe in your weekly dinner rotation to generate smart shopping lists—no repeats, fewer forgotten ingredients, and perfectly portioned quantities for every meal.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically aggregates ingredient quantities across all your planned recipes
• Sorts ingredients by grocery store section for fast, easy shopping
• Prevents overbuying and food waste by eliminating duplicate purchases
• Makes building efficient, balanced weekly menus simple and stress-free

Pro tip: When adding several chicken-based recipes to your week, use CookifyAI to organize your shopping and prep, so you always know exactly how much chicken and garlic you’ll need for all your meals.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Enjoy this effortless, flavor-packed Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe—and make every weeknight dinner a breeze!