This sour cream and onion chicken recipe is a fun take on the classic flavors! Tender chicken breasts are pan-fried and smothered in an easy, rich, and creamy sauce.
Looking for more chicken recipes? Check out my roundup of 50+ Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas.
Why you'll love it
This sour cream chicken is easy to make and quick as well. Apart from being a creative 30-minute meal to change up the rotation, it's also fantastic if you or someone you're cooking for is on a low-carb diet! It's kind of got Chicken Stroganoff vibes but without the mushrooms. It's those familiar sour cream and onion flavors you crave.
The sauce is perfectly balanced between being creamy yet with a hint of tang. I don't know about you, but I'm definitely a sauce person. This skillet chicken recipe makes plenty of really rich sauce, and it's amazing over a big ol' pile of mashed potatoes.
Ingredients you'll need
- Chicken - we're cutting chicken breasts lengthwise to make smaller cutlets
- Garlic powder - it's a tried and true method of mine to add it right to the cutlets along with salt & pepper for flavor
- Olive oil and butter - for pan frying
- Onion - I use Vidalia (sweet) onions, but your standard yellow or white ones will work just fine
- Garlic - use more than suggested if you're a garlic lover
- Chicken broth - to infuse even more savory flavor into the sauce
- Worcestershire sauce - it's my secret ingredient to add irresistible a savory quality to sauces. Don't skip it!
- Sour cream - we're going full-fat because it has much better flavor and is less likely to curdle. I don't recommend using low fat.
- Fresh parsley - totally optional but adds a bright touch
How to make chicken with sour cream sauce
This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.
Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make four thinner pieces. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper. In a skillet, sear the chicken until cooked through, then transfer it to a plate. Add the butter to the skillet along with the onions.
Cook the onions until they're lightly browned and soft. Stir in the garlic, followed by the broth and Worcestershire sauce, then add in the sour cream and let it warm through. Add the chicken back to the skillet, spoon some sauce over top, season to taste, and sprinkle with chopped parsley!
Tips for success
- This recipe isn't difficult to make, but I do recommend you watch the onions quite carefully so that they don't scorch. They're best cooked fairly slowly. You could cook them for even longer at a lower heat if you want to fully caramelize them.
- If the sauce thickens up too much, just add a splash more broth to thin it to your liking.
- As always, I recommend using an instant read meat thermometer to ensure meat isn't undercooked or overcooked. It takes about 2 seconds and eliminates all the guesswork!
What to serve with this recipe
- Try mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered egg noodles if you'd like to pair it with a starch.
- Or keep it low-carb with something like cauliflower rice or a side of veggies like my Easy Roasted Green Beans or this easy asparagus recipe.
- For something very light, try this Super Simple Parmesan Arugula Salad.
Leftovers and storage
- Leftovers will be good in the refrigerator in a covered container for 3-4 days.
- I'd reheat over a low heat in a saucepan, adding a little more sour cream or broth if necessary to revive the sauce.
- I don't recommend freezing creamy sauces.
Questions about this sour cream chicken recipe? Ask me in the comments below. Tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram if you've made one of my recipes so I can see your creations. 🙂
Sour Cream and Onion Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup sour cream full-fat
- Fresh chopped parsley optional, to taste
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner pieces. Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper.
- To a skillet, add the olive oil and one tablespoon of the butter. Let the pan heat up over medium-high heat for a few minutes.
- Once the pan is hot, add the chicken. Cook it for about 5-6 minutes/side or until it's golden and cooked through (165F). Transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and add in the remaining butter and the onion. Sauté the onion until it's softened and lightly browned (about 10-15 minutes). Timing will vary depending on how thick you sliced the onion. You may need to turn the heat down further if it seems like it's burning vs. slowly browning.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the chicken broth and Worcestershire sauce, and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the sour cream until you've got a smooth sauce, and let it heat through for a couple of minutes (ensure it doesn't bubble too much or else it could curdle).
- Add the chicken back to the skillet and spoon some sauce over top. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed, and serve immediately with some chopped parsley sprinkled over top.
Notes
- If the sauce is too thick, add a little more chicken broth.
- 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.
Amelia Carey says
Absolutely loved it!! I added sliced basil on top as well which tasted great.
Natasha says
Yay!! Glad to hear it!
Yvonne I says
I made this very good but next time I wi add baby spinach mushrooms and peeled
Had it over rice and broccoli
Natasha says
Glad you liked it!
Liz says
Hi, before I make this recipe, may I substitute the sour cream with Greek yogurt?**
Natasha says
Hi Liz! I don't recommend it unless it's full fat. Greek yogurt (especially lower fat ones) aren't very silky and can curdle/get grainy when heated.
Lisa says
Hello!! I'm planning on making this tonight, it looks great! but I don't have any chicken broth. I was wondering if I could just use water or milk or would that ruin it?
Natasha says
Water should be fine. Just ensure you salt it well enough at the end. Hope you like it! 🙂
George Moy says
Hi Natasha I was looking over your website and wonder if you have a recipe for using a packet of dry mix of sour cream and onion party dip for the coating on fried chicken and on pork chops as would use Shake N Bake.
Natasha says
Hello! I don't have a recipe for that - sorry!
Wes says
Love this one! I added some frozen mixed vegetables to it and a bit of dijon to the sauce to make it pop, and it was really delicious.
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! Love the veggies and Dijon idea.
Beth says
I make this but skip onion but use a few smashed garlic cloves (and remove) and coconut milk because we’re lactose and onion intolerant—delicious!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
So glad you could adapt it to your dietary needs, Beth!
Kirsten says
New family favourite!!! Everything about this is so delicious, we serve ours with mashed potato and greens and there’s never left overs, I think even the pan gets licked! If you’re looking for something to cook, cook this!!!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
We're so happy it's a hit with your family!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, Kirsten!
Beth says
I used chicken thighs bc it's what I had in hand but damn, comfort food at its finest with this one. Served with lemon butter broccoli and egg noodles. Def going on rotation.
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so glad you liked it!! 😀 Thanks for your review.
Joel says
Just a bachelor here. I eat a lot of tacos and BLTs. Everyone should try this. It's really simple, super tasty, and it will make you feel like you're a cook.
Natasha says
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it, Joel!
Anita says
Chicken Stroganoff!! What an amazing idea!! I will be making this tonight - your pictures made my mouth water!
Natasha says
Hope you enjoy it, Anita! 🙂 Let me know! Yup, it's definitely similar but I actually have a Chicken Stroganoff recipe here: https://bit.ly/3NpLcGE
Beans says
Pretty darn good
Natasha says
Thank you!!
Madeline Cains says
I’m going to make the recipe as written, but I wonder if Liptons dry onion soup could be used instead of fresh onion.
Natasha says
Hi! You could definitely give it a try! Let me know how it goes.
Morena says
This dish really hit the spot. I threw in some mushrooms that were about to go bad and it was *SO* good. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly (including using Vidalia onions). Served it with whipped potatoes and sautéed garlic lemon kale—'twas a delicious and satisfying meal indeed. Highly recommend if you're craving some comfort food!
Natasha says
I'm so happy it was a hit!! 🙂 Thanks so much for your review, Morena!
arlene jones says
Quite like other chicken breast/sour cream/onion recipes. I would use 1/2 amt of sour cream.
Natasha says
Not sure what you were expecting?
Amber Jarvis says
Making tonight, similar to another recipe I made up that brown's chicken,then onions,then make a bechemel and add milk n throw chicken back in n cook the crap out of them,add seasoning and everything bagel seasoning.real good everyone loves it but this sounds really good n alot faster.ill see tonight.thanks for the fast recipes 😊
Natasha says
I hope you'll enjoy it, Amber! 🙂
Kelsey says
This recipe sounds good. Do you think this would work with bone-in skin-on chicken thighs? If so, how would you modify the cook time/instructions?
Natasha says
Hi! I think that should work. I'd sear the chicken for longer, and you could pop it in the oven (just put the entire skillet in assuming it's oven-proof) to finish cooking it... then take it out and let it rest while you make the sauce. I'd loosely tent it with foil so it stays warm.
Alexa Milazzo says
Made this and it was delish! Thank you for another amazing recipe!
PS I noticed in the instructions the part to take the chicken out of the pan was missing. I luckily read the entire recipe before beginning, and saw you added the chicken back in, so I assumed I would take it out before the onions. 🙂
Natasha says
Hi Alexa!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to write me a review. And thanks for pointing out that omission... I just fixed it! 🙂 Yes, it is always good practice to read the full recipe through before starting so there are no surprises.
Susie says
This was delicious and so easy. Served over mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans as a side.
Will definitely make again.
Natasha says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, Susie! Thanks so much for taking the time to write a review.