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    Cook With Dana » Recipes » Meals Under 30 Minutes

    Published: Aug 11, 2023 · Modified: Aug 22, 2023 by Dana · This post may contain affiliate links · 21 Comments

    One Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    This one pot creamy garlic chicken takes 20 minutes to make and is super delicious! All you have to do is throw everything in one skillet or pot and once cooked, you can taste the fragrant flavor from the garlic and cilantro (you can also use parsley or basil instead!). You can add the creamy and juicy chicken on rice, pasta or salad for a complete meal!

    creamy chicken with cilantro on top of white rice on grey plate and a spoon

    You know that I love making one pot dinners or using as little of dishes as possible. This quick and easy garlicky chicken is going to be on rotation for dinner. There’s so much flavor and spice, you’re going to be licking the cream sauce when you’re done (that’s what we did!). You have to check out this creamy garlic chicken recipe on your next busy weeknight!

    Ingredients and Variations:

    What I love about this recipe is that most of the ingredients for this creamy chicken should be already in your pantry (seasonings) and refrigerator (milk)! Even if you don’t have them, the ingredients are very accessible and easy to find in most grocery stores.

    • chicken thighs (skinless and boneless) – it’s easier to cook and the chicken tastes juicy. You can definitely use chicken breast for this recipe, but you may need to adjust the cooking time. Just make sure the chicken is at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit after cooking.
    • salt
    • black pepper
    • garlic powder
    • paprika
    • cumin

    Cream Sauce

    • neutral oil such as avocado or vegetable oil will be added to the pan to fry the chicken
    • unsalted butter – I prefer to use unsalted because we are adding salt to the chicken and parmesan cheese to the sauce
    • half & half (can substitute with 1 cup milk or chicken broth) – I found that heavy cream itself was too thick to use as a sauce. You can substitute half & half with milk or chicken broth, but the sauce will not be as thick and creamy.
    • garlic cloves – I used 4 cloves and I think it’s plenty but I know garlic lovers can add more 😉
    • shredded parmesan cheese – freshly shredded parmesan cheese tastes the best but any will do!
    • fresh cilantro – fresh parsley or basil can be substituted. I know that not everyone likes cilantro

    How to Make This One Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken

    Season Chicken Thighs

    seasoning chicken with black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder on white plate

    Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel.

    seared golden brown chicken on cast iron pan

    Step 2: Mix the following seasonings together in a bowl: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin. Season chicken on both sides.

    Pan-Fry Chicken

    Heat pan or pot to medium high heat.

    Once the pan is hot and you see a little bit of smoke coming from it, add 1 tablespoon neutral oil. Next, add your chicken thighs on the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side. Flip over and cook for 2-3 minutes. Both sides should be golden brown!

    When the chicken has browned, take it off of the pan and place on a separate plate.

    Make Creamy Garlic Sauce

    melted butter and minced garlic on hot pan

    Step 3: Turn down the heat to low. Add butter to the pan with your minced garlic. Cook for one minute. Then, add 1 cup half & half. Stir occasionally.

    parmesan cheese shredded added in cream sauce stirred in pan

    Step 4. Add your shredded parmesan cheese to the cream and continue to stir occasionally. Keep the heat on low to ensure that the cheese sauce doesn’t curdle while cooking.

    Add You Chicken Back In!

    Place cooked chicken thighs (along with juices) in the pan and cook for 1 minute. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro or your preferred herb of choice!

    chicken thighs with cilantro on top made in a cream sauce

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I use chicken breast?

    Yes, you can! Try to use 1.5 pound chicken breast so the proportions of the ingredients is the same as the recipe. You may need to increase the cooking time of the chicken to ensure that the chicken is cooked through.

    I am lactose intolerant. Can I use lactose-free milk or oat milk?

    Yes, you can! Use your preferred type of milk. Parmesan cheese has low lactose content and can usually be tolerated by those with lactose intolerance. 

    Can I add in veggies?

    Yes, you can add some chopped spinach or mushrooms to the cream sauce. You can also added cooked pasta for an easy one pot meal!

    Serve

    I love to serve this dish with plain white rice. You can also serve on top of pasta. Any carb will soak up the yummy sauce! If you don’t want to eat carbs, you can serve the creamy chicken on the side with a nice mixed salad.

    creamy chicken with cilantro on top of white rice

    How to Store

    You can store this creamy garlic chicken in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. Since, we added fresh herbs, it is more likely to spoil, so eat it as soon as you can ◡̈ To heat up the leftovers, you can heat in the microwave for up to 2 minutes or reheat on a pan on low heat.

    Expert Tips

    • Dry your chicken with a paper towel before frying so you can get a nice sear on your chicken!
    • After browning your chicken, you will have some brown bits on the pan. Don’t throw that away (it has lots of flavor!). When adding the milk or cream, you can gently scrape that off and stir it in the sauce!
    • When cooking the cream sauce, make sure to turn down the heat to low or low medium. If the pan is too hot, the milk or cream will curdle with the cheese. This means that the sauce will look clumpy
    • Use fresh herbs like cilantro or basil for this dish. Dried seasonings will not be as fragrant. If you love cilantro sauce, you can also add this creamy cilantro sauce on top for extra flavor!
    • Use fresh parmesan or parmigiano-reggiano for impeccable taste in your cream sauce. Grate the cheese fresh if you can and it will taste more fresh! Higher quality ingredients make the biggest difference in the taste of your food.
    • Add in some vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to enhance your one pot meal!

    More Delicious Chicken Recipes:

    • Hainan Chicken Rice – a super popular chicken and rice dish sold in Asia with ginger scallion sauce.
    • Japanese Cream Stew – chicken cooked with vegetables in a Japanese cream sauce
    • Chinese Sausage with Chicken Rice – Chinese inspired one pot rice with fragrant flavors of lap cheong!
    • curry chicken on a plate with cucumbers, chili, lime, fork and rice
      One Pot Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice
    • Cheesy chicken and vegetables being lifted with chopsticks from a skillet with melted cheese.
      Dak Galbi (Stir Fry Spicy Chicken)
    • General Chicken Recipe
    • Chicken yakitori skewers on a white plate and ready to eat.
      Chicken Yakitori (Air Fryer & Oven)
    creamy chicken on top of white rice on a grey plate with a spoon
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.97 from 30 votes

    Creamy Garlic Chicken

    This one pot creamy garlic chicken is made with parmesan, garlic and cilantro (or herb of choice) for a delicious 20 minute meal. All you have to do is throw everything in one skillet or pot and once cooked, you can taste the fragrant flavor. The juicy chicken thighs go great with white rice and side of veggies.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 people
    Calories: 814kcal
    Author: Dana

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 pound chicken thighs boneless and skinless
    • 1½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cumin

    Garlic Cream Sauce

    • 1 tablespoon neutral oil for frying the chicken
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 cup half & half*
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ cup shredded parmesan
    • 12-20 sprigs cilantro finely minced

    Instructions

    Season Chicken

    • Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Moisture will prevent the chicken from searing.
    • Mix the following seasonings together in a bowl: 1½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon cumin.
    • Mince garlic and finely chop fresh cilantro.

    Cook Chicken

    • Heat pan or pot to medium high heat. While the pan is getting hot, add seasonings on both sides of the chicken.
    • Once the pan is hot and you see a little bit of smoke coming from it, add 1 tablespoon neutral oil. Next, add your chicken thighs on the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes on one side. Flip over and cook for 2-3 minutes. Both sides should be golden brown!
    • When the chicken has browned, take it off of the pan in a separate plate. Turn the heat down to low.

    Make Creamy Garlic Sauce

    • Add 1 tablespoon butter to the pan with your minced garlic. Cook for one minute. Then, add 1 cup half & half. Stir occasionally.
    • Add your shredded parmesan cheese to the cream and continue to stir occasionally. Keep the heat on low to ensure that the cheese sauce doesn’t curdle while cooking.
    • Once the cheese has melted and the cream sauce has thickened, add your chicken thighs (along with juices) in the pan and cook for 1 minute. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro!

    Video

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cv0vHzvLAos/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    Notes

    *can substitute half & half with 1 cup milk or chicken broth – if you sub with milk or broth, the sauce will not be as thick
    Expert Tips
    • Dry your chicken with a paper towel before frying so you can get a nice sear on your chicken!
    • After browning your chicken, you will have some brown bits on the pan. Don’t throw that away (it has lots of flavor!). When adding the milk or cream, you can gently scrape that off and stir it in the sauce!
    • When cooking the cream sauce, make sure to turn down the heat to low or low medium. If the pan is too hot, the milk or cream will curdle with the cheese. 
    • Use fresh herbs like cilantro or basil for this dish. 
    • Use fresh parmesan or parmigiano-reggiano for impeccable taste in your cream sauce. 
    • Add in some vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to enhance your one pot meal!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 814kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 348mg | Sodium: 2016mg | Potassium: 829mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 1596IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Did you make this?Please give it a 5-star rating, or leave a comment to share your experience! Tag @cookwithdanaa on Instagram to show me your beautiful creations! 😊

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.97 from 30 votes (14 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Mary Crosby says

      January 03, 2025 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Hands down one of the best chicken garlic cream sauces we have done! The unique spices the chicken was flavored are really nice. They were wonderful in scrapped into the sauce. We substituted some of the half and half with skim milk for less calories still creamy with the cheese. We doubled the garlic, just because we like garlic. LOL The cilantro on the top is a lovey bright flavor burst that was not over powering. Creamy sauce, flavorful chicken, easy to do. We will do this recipe, again.

      Reply
      • Dana says

        February 03, 2025 at 6:00 pm

        Thanks Mary for giving this recipe a try! This is one of my favorite recipes and I’m so happy you liked it!

        Reply
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    Hi there, I'm Dana and I create Asian recipes that are yummy and easy for everyone to make! I hope my food reminds you of a little taste of home.

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