Description
This Chicken Scampi with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Rice is a delightful Italian-inspired dish featuring succulent strips of chicken sautéed in a buttery garlic lemon sauce paired perfectly with rich, creamy Parmesan-infused rice. It’s an easy stovetop recipe serving four, great for a comforting yet elegant weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Scampi
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
For the Creamy Garlic Parmesan Rice
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 1/4 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season and Sauté Chicken: Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sauté for 5–6 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Scampi Sauce: Reduce heat to medium in the same skillet and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Sauté minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in white wine (or chicken broth) and lemon juice. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to slightly reduce and intensify flavors. Stir in chopped parsley.
- Finish Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, tossing to thoroughly coat in the garlic-lemon sauce. Keep warm on low heat.
- Cook Rice: While the chicken simmers, bring chicken broth and rice to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until rice is tender and broth is absorbed.
- Make Creamy Parmesan Rice: Once rice is cooked, stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy garlic Parmesan rice onto plates. Top generously with the lemon-garlic chicken scampi. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a lower-carb alternative, serve the chicken over cauliflower rice or steamed vegetables.
- Using pre-cooked rice can speed up preparation; simply stir it into the cream and Parmesan until heated through.
- If white wine is not available, chicken broth works perfectly and keeps the dish flavorful.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit for a milder dish.
- Fresh parsley adds brightness, but dried parsley can be substituted if fresh is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 585
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
