This creamy garlic chicken recipe is the ultimate easy comfort food! Tender chicken breast smothered in a creamy garlic sauce is irresistible. Garlic lovers unite!
This creamy garlic chicken is ready in about 30 minutes. In my opinion, it's good enough to serve company, but it's also one of those dishes that work for a quick weeknight dinner.
A quick note on the recipe: Yes, I include both garlic powder and an entire head of garlic in this recipe... it's not a typo. Believe it or not, the garlic cloves themselves don't make the sauce ridiculously garlicky. The flavor of garlic powder is slightly different than the fresh cloves. I'm going for all-out depth of garlic flavor here without making it overpowering.
If you've never really cooked with whole garlic cloves before, don't worry. Cooking them in the sauce mellows them right out... it's nothing like biting into raw garlic haha.
How to make creamy garlic chicken (overview):
Start by cutting the chicken breasts in half lengthwise (the chicken cooks faster and more evenly, so it remains tender and melt-in-your-mouth). You then dredge the chicken pieces in flour and pan-fry them until they're golden, then take them out of the skillet. In the same pan, lightly brown the garlic cloves and make the sauce. The chicken goes back in for a few more minutes to finish cooking, and the sauce thickens up. (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)
Love this recipe? Try my Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken, this Creamy Bacon Chicken, or my Creamy Mushroom Chicken.
Recipe notes & tips:
- Sub the cream at your own discretion. If you use something like milk or half-and-half, the sauce may curdle (due to the high heat) and end up thinner. I recommend reading through the reader comments - there's tons of tips from readers who have tweaked this recipe to their liking.
- I use boneless/skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You may sub for chicken thighs, but keep in mind those may take a bit longer to cook.
- Chicken is safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165F (the chicken's temperature will continue to rise for a few minutes after you take it off the heat). Using an instant read meat thermometer will prevent undercooked or overcooked chicken.
A note on peeling the garlic:
You don't have to spend a lot time peeling the garlic cloves. One quick way I recommend is by using this silicone garlic peeler tube (I have a similar one) or by buying garlic cloves that are already peeled if you really want to save a bit of time. I usually just use my knife (here's a quick video tutorial on how if you're curious).
What to serve with creamy garlic chicken:
Try rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, or a salad. Sweet corn, carrots, roasted veggies (try my maple roasted carrots and beets), or green beans would also go great.
Will you give this creamy garlic chicken recipe a try? I hope you like it.
Questions? Ask me in the comments below.
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- Flour for dredging
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 whole head garlic cloves peeled
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Parsley chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken in half lengthwise so you have 4 smaller cutlets. Sprinkle them with some salt & pepper and coat them in the flour.
- Add the olive oil and 1 tbsp of the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, sauté the chicken for 4-5 minutes/side or until it's nice and golden. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium (or even med-low if using cast iron), and add the rest of the butter to the pan. Let it melt and then add the garlic cloves. Cook them for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until they're lightly browned on the outside.
- Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and garlic powder to the pan. Let it bubble for around 4 minutes or until the liquid is noticeably reduced.
- Stir in the cream and add the chicken back into the pan. Let it cook for another 5 minutes or so, until the sauce is reduced and the chicken is cooked through. Serve with freshly chopped parsley if you wish.
Notes
- I used my trusty 10-1/4" Lodge cast iron skillet to make this recipe. Any skillet is fine, though.
- I recommend using fairly large boneless/skinless chicken breasts for this recipe since we're cutting them in half lengthwise. If you have smaller ones, use 4 of them and leave them intact.
- If your garlic cloves are particularly gigantic like some of mine were, feel free to cut them in half so they're all roughly the same size.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Brandon says
I’m not the best cook, my other half does all the cooking. Thought I would give this a go as he loves garlic and safe to say, I smashed it! A fantastic recipe, quick and easy and minimal clean up!! He absolutely loved it and wants me to cook more often now!
Natasha says
That's wonderful to hear!! 😀
Jessica says
WOW! It isn’t often that I am wowed by someone else’s recipe but this was so simple yet so delicious. I added some dried basil and thyme to season the chicken and used a little more chicken broth (I like a lot of sauce) and extra lemon juice and it was perfect. Added some halved grape tomatoes and fresh broccoli and served it over egg noodles. The sauce is so creamy but not heavy at all. So easy in one pan, quick clean up. I am in love! I can’t wait to try it with different veggies and I think it would be sooo good over the mashed potatoes or some risotto. 5 stars! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes. 😊
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Jessica!! 🙂 Thanks for your review! Let me know if you try anything else.
D says
Could you use half and half instead of heavy whipping cream? Do you think it will change the taste?
Natasha says
Hi! I talk about that in the blog post under the "recipe notes & tips" section. I think some have used half-and-half successfully (may want to look thru comments).
K says
You don't want to use half and half if you're adding the lemon juice. It needs to be the heavy cream or else it will curdle!
Dawn says
I made this recipe a few weeks ago right after I got my first dutch oven. Went by the recipe except I slice the garlic cloves in slices but not thin. This was so good!!! I posted it on FB. Made some more fabulous recipes with the DO and my niece said she and her husband wanted a DO. I sent one as an early Christmas gift. Her first recipe was this Garlic Chicken tonight. They loved it. Her husband said it was the best meal in months and they are both great cooks. SO GOOD! Garlic came out like I roasted them in the oven!
Natasha says
I'm glad you're enjoying your new Dutch oven and creamy garlic chicken!! What a great gift... best aunt ever! I'm glad your niece and her husband love the recipe too. 😀
Roger says
This recipe is excellent. I'm planning on using non-dairy made with cashews, because I'm seriously allergic. Tahe New York Times just recently published a similar recipe. I knew they couldn't be the first. La preière of course was in France. Comme elle est belle!
Serena says
Roger, get naet treatment for your dairy allergy. It works amazingly
Barb says
This recipe was amazing will definitely make again
Natasha says
Thanks, Barb!!
GiGiMeix says
Followed the recipe to a T and it turned out perfect (although I failed to realize I should have left the garlic whole) I'm not a good cook and this got rave reviews from the fam and will be a repeat again soon! Additionally, any time i have cooked chicken with flour it makes a big burning mess but the second step (boiling the broth and garlic) cleaned it right up. It turned out just like the picture! We served with boiled perogies and green beans and used the extra sauce on those. YUMMY!
Natasha says
That's awesome!! I'm so happy it worked out! 🙂
Jeanne says
I made this recipe tonight and my husband and I and we enjoyed it so much!! I will make this when I hosts guests over on the Holidays! This is just delicious! Thank you!!
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so happy to hear it!
Taylor says
Hello, have you tried this with roasted garlic before?
Natasha says
I haven't, but I think it would be delicious.