Description
A comforting and creamy Cream Cheese Chicken recipe featuring tender seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich, velvety cream cheese sauce with garlic and Parmesan. Easy to prepare in under 30 minutes using simple pantry staples, perfect for a quick and satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Garnishes
- Fresh parsley or thyme, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken until golden brown on both sides, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same skillet, sautéing until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Gradually stir in the softened cream cheese and chicken broth, whisking continuously to combine into a smooth sauce. Let the sauce simmer gently while stirring until it thickens slightly.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over each piece, then cover and let simmer for 8-10 minutes. This allows the chicken to cook through and the flavors to meld.
- Finish with Cheese and Herbs: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken during the last two minutes of cooking. Optionally, add fresh herbs like parsley or thyme. The cheese will melt into the sauce, adding a nutty, savory dimension.
Notes
- Let chicken come to room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even searing.
- Use full-fat cream cheese for the creamiest sauce.
- Simmer gently with a lid to keep chicken juicy and tender.
- Fresh garlic enhances the flavor; avoid pre-minced garlic.
- Deglaze the pan with chicken broth after searing to capture browned bits for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing and Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: Cream Cheese Chicken, creamy chicken recipe, quick chicken dinner, easy weeknight meals, creamy sauce chicken, family-friendly chicken dish
