Description
The Creamy Herb Chicken Skillet is a comforting, easy-to-make one-pan meal featuring tender chicken breasts in a luscious herb-infused cream sauce with garlic and Parmesan. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions, offering family-friendly flavors, minimal ingredients, and quick cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken on each side until golden, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, ensuring it doesn’t burn to build the savory base for the sauce.
- Make the Herb Cream Sauce: Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up all brown bits. Add heavy cream and chopped fresh herbs. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and cook the sauce for about 3-4 minutes until it thickens and becomes creamy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the browned chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken and simmer gently for another 5-7 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and flavors meld.
- Final Touches: Stir everything once more, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from heat and garnish with freshly chopped parsley or lemon zest curls before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juicy results.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan to achieve a better sear and crust.
- Fresh herbs elevate flavor; if using dried, use one-third the amount and add earlier.
- Simmer sauce gently to thicken without curdling cream.
- Let chicken rest a few minutes after cooking to seal in juices and enhance tenderness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.
- Freeze cooled portions up to 2 months in freezer-safe containers.
- Reheat gently on low heat or microwave on medium, adding chicken broth if needed to restore creaminess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg