Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken

This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken delivers restaurant-quality results in just 30 minutes by pan-searing thinly sliced chicken breasts and creating rich, garlicky cream sauce in the same skillet with butter, fresh garlic, heavy cream, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. The recipe builds flavor through proper searing, deglazing with chicken broth or wine, and finishing with luxurious cream sauce that coats chicken perfectly. The technique uses straightforward sautéing and pan sauce methods requiring single skillet for minimal cleanup. The result creates tender, juicy chicken in velvety garlic parmesan sauce perfect for weeknight dinners or impressive entertaining with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick 30-Minute Meal – Complete dinner ready in half an hour from start to finish without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Restaurant-Quality at Home – Rich, creamy sauce and perfectly seared chicken rival upscale restaurant preparations.

One-Pan Efficiency – Everything cooks in single skillet, minimizing cleanup while building concentrated flavors.

Guest-Worthy Presentation – Impressive enough for entertaining yet simple enough for busy weeknight preparation.

Versatile Protein Base – Pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, vegetables, or crusty bread for complete meal.

Fresh Garlic and Parmesan – Real ingredients create authentic flavor that pre-made sauces cannot replicate.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken:

• 2 chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise – creates 4 thinner pieces for faster, more even cooking
• Salt and pepper to taste – essential seasoning for chicken
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder – adds baseline garlic flavor before sauce

For Cooking:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil – provides high-heat searing capability
• 1 tablespoon butter – adds richness and flavor to cooking fat

For the Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour – creates roux base for sauce thickening
• 3 cloves garlic, minced – provides fresh, pungent garlic essence
• ½ cup chicken broth or dry white wine – deglazes pan and adds savory depth
• 1 cup heavy/whipping cream – creates rich, luxurious sauce base
• ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese – delivers nutty, salty cheese flavor and additional thickening
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped – adds color and fresh herb finish

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Chicken

Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally (lengthwise) to create 4 thinner cutlets of approximately equal thickness. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, ensuring even coverage.

Heat Pan and Cook Chicken

Add olive oil and butter to large skillet over medium-high heat. Allow pan to heat for few minutes until butter melts and mixture shimmers. Add seasoned chicken pieces in single layer and cook undisturbed 5-6 minutes until golden brown crust forms on bottom.

Finish Chicken

Flip chicken and cook additional 5-6 minutes on second side until nicely seared and internal temperature reaches 165°F on instant-read thermometer. Transfer cooked chicken to plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm. Turn off heat temporarily.

Start Sauce Base

Turn heat back to medium-high (allowing pan to reheat if needed). Sprinkle flour and minced garlic into skillet with remaining fat and browned bits. Cook about 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent garlic burning and ensure flour doesn’t clump.

Deglaze Pan

Pour in chicken broth or white wine, whisking continuously to dissolve flour completely and scrape up all browned bits (fond) from pan bottom. Let liquid reduce by half, which concentrates flavors and begins thickening process.

Add Cream

Stir in heavy cream and let mixture bubble gently for few minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce will thicken as it reduces to desired consistency. Reduce heat if boiling too rapidly to prevent cream from breaking.

Melt Parmesan

Remove skillet from heat and stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese, mixing until completely melted and incorporated into smooth, creamy sauce. Off-heat addition prevents cheese from becoming stringy or grainy.

Return Chicken and Finish

Add chicken back to skillet along with any accumulated juices from resting plate. Spoon sauce generously over chicken pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over top for color and fresh herb accent.

Serve Immediately

Serve chicken with abundant sauce while hot, accompanying with pasta, rice, vegetables, or crusty bread to soak up delicious garlic parmesan cream sauce.

Recipe Notes & Tips

Thin Cutlets Essential – Cutting breasts horizontally creates faster, more even cooking; thicker pieces require longer time and risk overcooking exterior.

Temperature Testing Critical – Instant-read thermometer ensures perfect 165°F doneness; chicken can go from undercooked to overcooked rapidly.

Fresh Parmesan Required – Pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting; freshly grated melts seamlessly.

Flour Dissolving – Whisk vigorously when adding liquid to ensure flour dissolves completely without lumps forming.

Off-Heat Cheese Addition – Remove from heat before adding parmesan to prevent separation and maintain smooth, creamy texture.

Pan Temperature Management – If pan seems too hot or garlic starts burning, reduce heat immediately to prevent bitter flavors.

Nutritional Information

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories per serving: Approximately 450-500 kcal per serving (estimated based on ingredients)

Perfect Pairings

Pasta or Rice – Fettuccine, linguine, or white rice absorbs delicious sauce and creates complete meal.

Roasted Vegetables – Asparagus, broccoli, or green beans provide fresh vegetable element and color contrast.

Crusty Bread – Artisan bread or garlic bread perfect for soaking up every drop of creamy sauce.

Light Salad – Simple green salad with vinaigrette provides refreshing counterpoint to rich, creamy main dish.

Ideal Occasions

Busy Weeknight Dinners – Thirty-minute preparation fits hectic schedules while delivering satisfying, homemade meal.

Casual Entertaining – Impressive presentation and flavor make this suitable for guests despite quick preparation.

Date Night at Home – Restaurant-quality dish creates special occasion feel without leaving house.

Family Meals – Universally appealing flavors satisfy adults and children alike around dinner table.

Storage & Serving Tips

Refrigerator Storage – Store leftover chicken and sauce separately or together in airtight container up to 3 days.

Reheating Method – Warm gently in skillet over low heat, adding splash of cream or broth if sauce has thickened excessively.

Microwave Alternative – Heat individual portions in microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring between to prevent hot spots.

Sauce Consistency – Sauce thickens considerably when refrigerated; thin with additional cream, broth, or milk when reheating.

Creative Variations to Try

Sun-Dried Tomato Addition – Stir in chopped sun-dried tomatoes for tangy, Mediterranean flavor twist.

Spinach Integration – Add fresh spinach to sauce just before serving for nutritional boost and color.

Mushroom Enhancement – Sauté sliced mushrooms with garlic for earthy depth and additional texture.

Italian Herb Blend – Add Italian seasoning, basil, or oregano to sauce for different herb profile.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Dry Chicken – Overcooked beyond 165°F; use instant-read thermometer and remove promptly at correct temperature.

Grainy Sauce – Cheese added over too-high heat or pre-grated cheese used; remove from heat and use freshly grated parmesan.

Thin Sauce – Insufficient reduction or too much liquid; simmer longer to thicken or add small amount of cornstarch slurry.

Burned Garlic – Heat too high when cooking garlic; reduce temperature immediately and cook briefly, about 1 minute maximum.

Why This Recipe Works

This creamy garlic parmesan chicken succeeds because cutting chicken breasts horizontally creates thinner cutlets that cook quickly and evenly, preventing dry, overcooked exterior before interior reaches safe 165°F. The high-heat searing in butter-oil combination creates flavorful Maillard reaction browning while butter’s milk solids add nutty depth. The flour-garlic roux cooked in rendered fat and fond creates thickening base without lumps when liquid is added. Deglazing with chicken broth or wine dissolves concentrated browned bits (fond) that contain intense savory compounds developed during searing. The heavy cream’s fat content creates stable emulsion that doesn’t break during gentle simmering, while reduction concentrates flavors and achieves proper coating consistency. Off-heat parmesan addition prevents cheese proteins from seizing and becoming grainy, instead melting smoothly into sauce. The fresh garlic provides pungent, aromatic quality that garlic powder alone cannot replicate. At an estimated 450-500 calories per serving, this represents substantial main course with significant fat content from cream, butter, and cheese, balanced by lean protein from chicken.

Final Thoughts

This recipe demonstrates how restaurant-quality dishes can be achieved at home through proper technique—high-heat searing, thorough deglazing, and careful sauce building—using everyday ingredients in minimal time. The 30-minute preparation makes this genuinely practical for weeknight cooking while the impressive flavors and presentation suit entertaining without stress. At approximately 450-500 calories per serving, this represents hearty main course appropriate for occasional indulgence rather than daily consumption due to cream and cheese content, though the portion provides satisfying combination of protein and fat that promotes fullness. For lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce butter to 1 teaspoon to cut approximately 120-150 calories per serving while maintaining acceptable creaminess. The single-skillet method minimizes cleanup while proper fond utilization—those flavorful browned bits—ensures no flavor is wasted, creating sauce with depth that cannot be achieved through shortcuts. The recipe’s flexibility accommodates various proteins (try with pork chops or fish), different herbs, or vegetable additions, making this adaptable template rather than rigid formula. This suits both novice cooks seeking reliable, impressive recipes and experienced home chefs wanting efficient weeknight solutions that don’t sacrifice quality. The fresh parmesan and garlic make significant flavor difference compared to shortcuts like jarred garlic or pre-grated cheese, proving that small quality choices create outsized impact on final results.