Creamy Garlic Lovers’ Chicken is made with a luscious sauce and 20 garlic cloves—yes! Best of all, it’s ready in about 30 minutes, using just one pan and a few pantry-friendly ingredients. The result? A comforting dish that’s simply irresistible.
Chicken dinners are a weeknight lifesaver – you can never have enough! Some of my back-pocket favorites include Chicken ‘Nduja Bake, Chili Garlic Chicken or Garlic Mushroom Chicken with Bacon.
Creamy garlic chicken recipe
This dish is, without any doubt, one of my all-time favorites. It brings together three simple ingredients—chicken, garlic and cream— for a truly unforgettable dinner!
Even beginner cooks can whip up this easy recipe. We sear the chicken, sauté the garlic, then stir in the cream and let it all simmer to perfection. Made with simple pantry staples, means you can enjoy this dish any night of the week. You’ll be amazed at how such humble ingredients can transform into something so bold and gourmet-tasting.
Follow along with my step-by-step VIDEO!
What to serve with garlic chicken
- mashed potatoes
- crispy butter potatoes
- rice
- pasta
- gnocchi
- crusty bread
- french fries
- cauliflower mash or cauliflower rice
- tomato cucumber salad
- romaine salad drizzled with caesar dressing
- roasted vegetables
Creamy garlic chicken ingredients
- Chicken: We use chicken fillets in this recipe, but chicken cutlets or boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well.
- Garlic: This recipe calls for 10 minced cloves and 10 whole cloves of garlic. The whole cloves cook down beautifully in the pan, adding a rich, bold flavor that really makes this dish stand out.
- Chicken Broth: This helps to build the creamy sauce while boosting the chicken flavor.
- Cream: For the best results, use heavy cream. For a dairy-free option, substitute with unsweetened coconut milk, soy cream, or oat cream—whichever you prefer!
- Seasoning: The chicken is seasoned with salt, black pepper, sweet paprika, and garlic powder. We also add dried thyme to the cream sauce for a fragrant touch.
- Olive Oil and Unsalted Butter: These are used to sear the chicken to golden perfection.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a bright, zesty flavor that balances the richness of the sauce.
- All-Purpose Flour: Used to thicken the sauce. For a gluten-free option, you can swap it with cornstarch.
Recipe tips
- Now, you might be wondering: garlic powder, minced garlic, and whole garlic cloves—are we going overboard? Absolutely not! Each form of garlic plays a unique role. Garlic powder infuses the chicken, minced garlic enriches the sauce, and the whole garlic cloves, once cooked, mellow out, giving the dish a subtle, warm garlic flavor without being overpowering.
- This incredible garlic sauce isn’t just for chicken. It’s just as delicious paired with steak, pork loin or shrimp.
- For a tasty variation, try pan-frying some mushrooms before adding the garlic.
- Want to mix it up even more? Stir in some grated Parmesan for a richer, more complex flavor.
- Feeling bold? Spice things up with red pepper flakes! I usually sprinkle at least ¼ teaspoon on top, but if you’re after some real heat, go for ½ teaspoon. You can also keep things mild for the family and add extra flakes to individual servings.
- If your sauce gets thicker than you’d like, simply thin it out by stirring in a bit of cream until it reaches the perfect consistency.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing the chicken in the sauce, as it can cause the sauce to separate and the texture to become mushy. However, the chicken freezes perfectly on its own.
Creamy Garlic Lovers' Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken fillets
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper divided
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 20 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
- chili flakes for serving, optional
- freshly ground black pepper for topping, optional
Instructions
- Get your prep done before you start cooking: Combine chicken with salt, paprika, garlic powder and ½ tsp black pepper.
- Chop the parsley and mince 8 garlic cloves, leaving the other 12 whole.
- Heat oil and butter over medium high, add chicken fillets and sear 5 minutes per side. Remove from skillet onto a clean plate.
- Reduce heat to low. Add the whole garlic cloves and sauté for 3 minutes. Next add the minced garlic cloves and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in flour.
- Deglaze the skillet by adding chicken broth, then simmer for about 2 minutes. As it simmers, use a wooden spoon to gently scrape up the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, incorporating them into the sauce.
- Stir in thyme and the remaining black pepper. Pour in cream and bring to a simmer. Add lemon juice and parsley.
- Return chicken to the skillet and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. The cooking time depends on the thickness of your chicken fillets.
- Top with chili flakes and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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