Greatest Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe That Melts Hearts

Tender chicken breasts swimming in a luscious garlic butter sauce never fail to tantalize the taste buds.

This mouthwatering garlic butter chicken recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor right in your kitchen.

The blend of rich, creamy ingredients creates a decadent meal that’s both simple and impressive.

Aromatic garlic and velvety butter meld together, coating each succulent piece of chicken with irresistible flavor.

Each bite promises a perfect balance of savory and smooth textures that will have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds.

Quick to prepare and packed with comforting flavors, this dish transforms an ordinary weeknight meal into something truly special.

Let’s turn these humble ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that will leave everyone craving more.

Why Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Is a Weeknight Hit

• Unleash Flavor Explosion: This recipe bursts with rich, creamy garlic butter sauce that transforms ordinary chicken into a mouthwatering masterpiece.
• Conquer Quick Cooking: Prepare a gourmet meal in less than 30 minutes with minimal ingredients and straightforward steps, perfect for busy home cooks.
• Embrace Versatile Dining: Ideal for romantic dinners, family gatherings, or a luxurious weeknight meal that impresses without complicated techniques.
• Customize with Ease: Swap spinach for other vegetables, adjust spice levels, or pair with pasta, rice, or salad to create your personalized culinary experience.

What You’ll Need for Garlic Butter Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Tender and juicy meat perfect for this creamy dish.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Classic seasonings to enhance chicken flavor.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Rich and flavorful base for cooking and creating sauce.

• Garlic: Aromatic and zesty flavor booster.
• Chicken Broth: Savory liquid for building sauce depth.
• Heavy Cream: Creamy and luxurious sauce foundation.
• Parmesan Cheese: Salty and tangy cheese for extra richness.
• Italian Seasoning: Herbal blend for Mediterranean-style flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Subtle spicy kick for added warmth.
• Spinach: Fresh and nutritious green to complement the creamy sauce.

Instructions for Making Creamy Garlic Chicken

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

Sprinkle salt and pepper generously over both sides of the chicken breasts, ensuring an even coating that will infuse delicious flavor into every bite.

Step 2: Sizzle and Brown

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Carefully place the seasoned chicken breasts into the hot pan.

Cook until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms on each side, approximately 5-7 minutes per side.

Once perfectly seared, transfer the chicken to a separate plate and set aside.

Step 3: Garlic Butter Magic

In the same skillet, melt butter until it becomes gloriously smooth.

Add minced garlic and sauté, letting the aromatic fragrance fill your kitchen for about 1 minute.

Step 4: Create the Creamy Sauce

• Chicken broth
• Heavy cream
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Red pepper flakes

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Step 5: Add Vibrant Greens

Toss fresh spinach into the simmering sauce.

Watch as the leaves wilt and become tender, which takes about 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Final Cooking and Finishing

Return the golden-brown chicken to the skillet.

Lovingly spoon the creamy sauce over the chicken.

Continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce reaches a perfect, velvety thickness.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Plate the chicken and generously ladle the creamy garlic spinach sauce on top.

Serve immediately while hot and incredibly delicious.

Tips to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Even Better

• Pat chicken breasts dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust that locks in moisture and creates delicious caramelization.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internally, preventing overcooking while guaranteeing food safety.
• Adjust red pepper flakes to match your heat preference, from mild to extra spicy, making the dish adaptable to individual tastes.
• Replace heavy cream with coconut cream or Greek yogurt for a lighter version that maintains creamy richness while reducing calories.
• Prepare extra sauce and store separately, allowing easy reheating and preventing soggy chicken when saving leftovers for future meals.

How to Keep Garlic Butter Chicken Tasty Later

• Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Cool the dish completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to maintain sauce moisture. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
• Place chicken in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals. Check temperature and stop when thoroughly warmed to prevent drying out.
• The creamy sauce may separate when frozen, compromising texture and flavor. Best enjoyed fresh within a few days of cooking.

Great Side Dishes for Garlic Butter Chicken

• Crisp Chardonnay Complement: Select a buttery, oak-aged Chardonnay that mirrors the creamy sauce's rich texture, enhancing the chicken's garlic and Parmesan notes.
• Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Create a silky side dish that absorbs the luxurious sauce, providing a complementary base that amplifies the chicken's flavor profile.
• Lemony Arugula Salad: Toss fresh arugula with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the dish's richness, adding a bright, peppery contrast that refreshes the palate.
• Crusty Artisan Bread: Serve warm, rustic bread for soaking up the incredible garlic butter sauce, ensuring no delicious drops go to waste.

Garlic Chicken Variations You Can Try

• Low-Carb Version: Replace chicken broth with cauliflower stock and use coconut cream instead of heavy cream for a keto-friendly alternative.
• Dairy-Free Option: Swap butter and heavy cream with olive oil and almond milk, using nutritional yeast in place of Parmesan cheese for similar flavor profile.
• Herb-Infused Variation: Substitute Italian seasoning with fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage for a more robust and aromatic herb experience.
• Spicy Southwest Remix: Add diced green chilies, replace red pepper flakes with chipotle powder, and sprinkle cilantro for a zesty Mexican-inspired version of the dish.

FAQs

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work great in this recipe. They’re more forgiving and stay juicy. Just adjust cooking time slightly since thighs might take a bit longer to cook through.

• Is this recipe gluten-free?

The recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free chicken broth. Double-check your broth and seasonings to ensure no hidden gluten ingredients.

• How spicy is this dish with red pepper flakes?

The recipe uses a small amount of red pepper flakes for a mild heat. If you’re sensitive to spice, you can reduce or omit them. For more heat, increase the amount according to your preference.

• Can I make this dish dairy-free?

It’s challenging to make this exact recipe dairy-free since it relies on butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan. You might need to find alternative substitutes like coconut cream and nutritional yeast, but the flavor profile will change significantly.

Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent “creamy garlic butter chicken” elevates home cooking with rich Mediterranean flavors. Tender chicken bathed in a luxurious sauce promises a delightful meal you’ll savor to the last delectable bite.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Seasonings and Herbs:

• Salt (to taste)
• Pepper (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) crushed red pepper flakes

Sauce and Additional Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 g) butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
• 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups spinach leaves

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Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken by generously seasoning both sides with salt and pepper, ensuring an even coating for maximum flavor absorption.
2. Preheat a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, creating a sizzling surface for perfect browning.
3. Carefully place seasoned chicken breasts into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust, approximately 5-6 minutes per side.
4. Once beautifully seared, transfer the chicken to a temporary plate, keeping it warm and preserving its juiciness.
5. Reduce the skillet heat to medium and introduce butter, letting it melt smoothly and create a rich foundation for the sauce.
6. Add minced garlic to the melted butter, stirring quickly to release its aromatic essence without burning, which takes roughly 30-45 seconds.
7. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, creating a luxurious base for the sauce, then sprinkle Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes for depth and complexity.
8. Allow the mixture to simmer gently, watching as it gradually thickens and develops a velvety consistency.
9. Introduce fresh spinach leaves to the sauce, gently folding them until they wilt and incorporate seamlessly into the creamy mixture.
10. Carefully return the seared chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces into the sauce and spooning the creamy mixture over the top.
11. Continue cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes, ensuring the chicken reaches perfect doneness and the sauce reaches ideal thickness.

Notes

• Achieve golden-brown perfection by patting chicken dry before seasoning to enhance crispy exterior and prevent steaming.
• Prevent sauce separation by using room temperature cream and slowly incorporating ingredients while maintaining consistent medium heat.
• Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes quantity – start with less and gradually increase for personalized spice preference.
• Transform dish into low-carb option by replacing cream with coconut milk and serving over cauliflower rice for keto-friendly alternative.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 590
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 680mg
• Fat: 45g
• Saturated Fat: 24g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 6g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 40g
• Cholesterol: 180mg