Description
A quick, one-pan creamy chicken skillet that sears the meat and builds a rich, garlicky sauce in the same pan. It’s a foolproof weeknight dinner that tastes homemade but takes only 30 minutes to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil (for searing)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (divided)
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (full-fat)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon cold butter
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Pound to even thickness if needed. Toss lightly in 1 tablespoon of flour, shaking off excess.
- Heat oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside, leaving fond in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook until soft (2-3 minutes). Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Simmer for 2 minutes. Whisk remaining 1 tablespoon of flour into a slurry and stir into the broth.
- Slowly whisk in heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Return chicken and any juices to the skillet. Nestle chicken into sauce, cover, and simmer on low for 5-7 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted, then stir in cold butter until emulsified and glossy. Adjust salt if needed.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or pasta.
Notes
Do not skip searing the chicken for flavor. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Use cold butter at the end to emulsify the sauce. The sauce thickens as it sits; add a splash of milk when reheating leftovers. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: creamy chicken skillet, one pan dinner, weeknight dinner, easy chicken recipe, 30 minute meals, family friendly dinner