Quick Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken – Easy 20-Minute Dinner
A quick and easy creamy garlic butter chicken recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish features tender chicken breasts in a velvety garlic cream sauce with parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb total)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. If thick, slice in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and let it melt and sizzle.
- Carefully place the chicken in the hot pan. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and stir constantly for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir. Add Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Return chicken to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the tops. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes to reheat and meld flavors.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pat chicken dry for best sear. Watch garlic carefully as it burns quickly. Keep heat low when adding cream to prevent curdling. Season in layers for best flavor. If sauce is too thin, let simmer longer or add cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp cold water).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: creamy garlic butter chicken, quick chicken dinner, 20-minute meal, weeknight dinner, garlic cream sauce chicken