Description
Cream Cheese Chicken is a comforting and easy one-pan dinner featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich, creamy sauce made from cream cheese, garlic, herbs, and chicken broth. This flavorful skillet meal is perfect for busy weeknights and pairs beautifully with rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and dried Italian seasoning to infuse layers of flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, making sure not to burn it.
- Deglaze the Pan: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the skillet to deepen the sauce’s flavor.
- Make Creamy Sauce: Lower the heat and stir in the softened cream cheese until it melts smoothly into the broth, forming a creamy sauce. If using, add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir until fully incorporated and creamy.
- Simmer with Chicken: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, cover the pan, and let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for a fresh finish and serve the creamy chicken hot with your preferred side dish.
Notes
- For extra flavor and texture, add sautéed mushrooms or spinach into the cream sauce before simmering the chicken.
- Using light cream cheese results in a thinner sauce but still tasty.
- Serve this dish over rice, pasta, or creamy mashed potatoes to soak up the delicious sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
