Description
Comforting cream cheese chicken brings hearty warmth to midweek dinner tables with minimal preparation. Cheesy, creamy protein promises satisfying flavors you can quickly craft for hungry family members.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (8 oz/226 g) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup heavy cream (or milk for a lighter version)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt (or to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Searing Preparation: Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating an ideal cooking environment for the chicken.
- Seasoning Technique: Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning, ensuring comprehensive flavor integration.
- Chicken Cooking: Brown chicken in the hot skillet, cooking each side for 5-6 minutes until golden and fully cooked, with clear juices indicating doneness. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Sauce Foundation: Utilize the skillet’s flavorful remnants to begin sauce preparation by melting cream cheese, whisking smoothly to create a rich, creamy base.
- Sauce Development: Pour in broth and additional seasonings, stirring continuously to develop a velvety sauce with consistent texture and depth of flavor.
- Final Assembly: Return chicken to the skillet, submerging pieces in the creamy sauce and simmering for several minutes to meld flavors and ensure complete heating.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer chicken to serving plates, lavishly draping with the luxurious sauce, creating an inviting and appetizing dish ready to be enjoyed.
Notes
- Seasoning Balance: Use fresh, high-quality spices to maximize flavor intensity and create a more robust taste profile for the chicken.
- Chicken Doneness Check: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F internally, preventing undercooking while maintaining juiciness.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Whisk cream cheese slowly and steadily to avoid lumps, creating a smooth, silky sauce texture that coats the chicken evenly.
- Low-Carb Adaptation: Substitute heavy cream or use a lower-fat cream cheese option for those watching carbohydrate intake or seeking a lighter version of the dish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg