I’m constantly coming up with new and easy chicken dinners – some of my favorites include balsamic chicken, garlic and herb drumsticks and this simple yet satisfying garlic chicken.
When I’m looking for a speedy dinner, I often turn to chicken breast tenders. They’re lean, cook quickly and my kids love ’em. This garlic chicken uses breast tenders in the most delicious creamy sauce with plenty of garlic involved! Add some mashed potatoes and a steamed veggie and dinner is served.
How do you make garlic chicken?
The first step in this recipe is to brown your chicken in a little butter. After the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, a generous amount of garlic goes into the pan. The next step is to make the cream sauce, which consists of butter, chicken broth, cream and parmesan cheese. Pour the sauce over the chicken and dinner is served!
Tips for garlic chicken
Use freshly minced garlic for this recipe – the jarred stuff doesn’t have nearly as much flavor! Don’t have chicken breast tenders? You can also use chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs, just adjust the cooking time accordingly. I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese if possible – the pre-shredded kind often contains anti-caking agents and it won’t melt as smoothly in the sauce. You can also try using romano or asiago cheese instead of parmesan. Garnish your garlic chicken with fresh herbs. I typically use parsley because I always have it on hand, but other great choices are chives, basil or thyme. This recipe calls for heavy cream which produces the richest and thickest sauce. You can use half and half or whole milk instead, but you may need to add a thickening agent such as cornstarch or flour. This recipe can easily be doubled if you’re feeding a larger group. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this one, as dairy based sauces have a tendency to separate when frozen.
Garlic chicken variations
I typically make this garlic chicken as written, but sometimes I add other ingredients for a different flavor.
Spinach leaves Cooked crumbled bacon Sun dried tomatoes Marinated artichoke hearts Sauteed mushrooms Halved cherry tomatoes
This garlic chicken is best served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or with bread to sop up all that amazing sauce! If you’re watching your carbs, you can serve this dish over spaghetti squash or cauliflower rice. I like to add a green vegetable on the side such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans or zucchini. I love that this meal tastes like it came from a restaurant, but you can make it in the comfort of your own home in about 30 minutes. A must-try recipe for sure!
More great chicken recipes
Instant Pot Mushroom Chicken Baked Chicken Parmesan Italian Chicken Jalapeno Popper Chicken Garlic & Herb Roasted Chicken
