Name: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 large chicken breasts (butterflied lengthwise into 4 pieces); Salt and pepper (for seasoning); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoons butter (divided); 6 garlic cloves; 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary* (finely chopped); 1 cup chicken broth (or stock); 1 cup half and half or heavy cream (warmed)

Recipe

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Perfectly cooked chicken breasts in a deliciously creamy garlic sauce. This is one recipe that pairs great with your favorite side dish!

This Creamy Garlic Chicken is an irresistible meal that is perfect for any night of the week. It tastes amazing, and it pairs great with your favorite sides.

creamy garlic chicken breasts in a skillet with cream sauce

Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Juicy chicken tossed in a creamy garlic sauce is perfection in every bite -it’s an easy chicken dinner idea your family will ask for time and time again -mine does!

Kids and adults will agree that this is the way to eat chicken: flavorful and never bland. The perfect amount of garlic and herbs leads me to make extras and use leftovers for a garlic chicken pasta dinner a couple of nights later that everyone devours.

Ingredients

The deliciousness of this recipe comes from simple ingredients we usually have around. While you’ll find the measurements in the printable recipe card, first check why you need these ingredients to make this delicious chicken with creamy garlic sauce:

Chicken breasts: butterflied lengthwise into 4 pieces for even and quick cooking.
Salt and pepper: for seasoning
Olive oil: a little to cook the chicken. You can use spray if using a non-stick pan.
Butter: you can use salted or unsalted butter to make the sauce.
Garlic cloves: gotta have them for adding flavor.
Fresh rosemary: fresh adds a ton of extra flavor to the dish, but use half the amount dried if needed.
Chicken broth: you can also use stock or bone broth.
Half and half or heavy cream: either option works well for this chicken dish.

two side by side photos making garlic chicken breasts in a skillet

How to make Garlic Chicken and Sauce

This dinner recipe takes 20 minutes from start to finish, and the reward is the most epic creamy garlic chicken! Check my tips to prepare this delicious meal:

Prep the chicken
Butterflying the chicken breasts ensures they cook evenly and in half the time. Once done, pat them dry so the seasonings stick to the meat.
Cook the chicken
Sear the chicken in a skillet for 3 or 4 minutes without disturbing it. Then, flip it and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure the chicken is fully cooked.
Make the sauce
Remove the chicken and use the same pan to make the sauce. Cooking the sauce lifts the toasty chicken tidbits. Yummy! Once ready, the garlic sauce is visibly reduced.
Combine
Add the chicken breasts back into the pan, let it simmer for a few extra minutes, and enjoy!

First time making garlic chicken? Watch this quick video and I’ll walk you through it!

How to Know When Chicken Breasts are Done

The best way to know if chicken breasts are done is using a meat thermometer. Remove them from the pan, poke the thickest part, and if the internal temperature reaches 165F (73C), you’ll know they’re cooked.

plate filled with mashed potatoes, green beans and chicken breast covered with creamy garlic sauce

What To Serve with Creamy Garlic Chicken

Serve the chicken with cream sauce with your favorite sides, like southern mashed potatoes and green beans, a gorgeous wedge salad, or an easy side salad.

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

Perfectly cooked chicken breasts in a deliciously creamy garlic sauce. This is one recipe that pairs great with your favorite side dish!

5 from 23 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

2 large chicken breasts, butterflied lengthwise into 4 pieces
Salt and pepper, for seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter , divided
6 garlic cloves
½ teaspoon fresh rosemary*, finely chopped
1 cup chicken broth, or stock
1 cup half and half or heavy cream, warmed

Instructions

Cook the chicken:

On a flat surface, pat dry the 4 chicken cutlets. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter is melted, place the chicken pieces on the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, without disturbing them, flip, and cook for 3 to 4 additional minutes on the other side until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Remove from pan onto a plate and set aside.

Make the sauce:

Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of butter onto the pan. Add the whole garlic cloves and sauté them for about 2 to 3 minutes, moving them around to make sure they toast to a golden color, but they don’t burn.
Add the rosemary to the pan and toast it for about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth or stock, and as it simmers, use a wooden spatula to scrape the tidbits from the bottom of the pan. Add warmed cream to the pan and stir, bringing it to a simmer, and then cook it down for about 4 minutes.

Combine:

Add the chicken breasts back into the pan and let them simmer in the sauce for a few minutes, to warm them up and let them absorb the creamy garlic flavor of the sauce.