Description
Cream Cheese Chicken is a rich and creamy skillet dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a luscious sauce made from cream cheese, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs. This easy stovetop recipe comes together quickly, making it perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner that’s both flavorful and low-carb.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley or chives
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry and season evenly with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. This helps to build flavor right from the start.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown and nearly cooked through. Once seared, remove the chicken and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low, then add chicken broth and softened cream cheese to the same skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth.
- Add Flavorings: Stir in sour cream (if using), Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning or parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to combine the flavors and thicken slightly.
- Simmer the Chicken: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, cover with a lid, and simmer on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. This allows the flavors to meld and the chicken to finish cooking in the creamy sauce.
- Serve and Garnish: Spoon the rich cream cheese sauce generously over the chicken. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives for a burst of color and fresh flavor, then serve hot over your favorite side.
Notes
- Serve this creamy chicken over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- For a one-pan variation, add fresh spinach or mushrooms to the sauce while it simmers to incorporate extra veggies.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
