Creamy Parmesan Chicken is a perfect quick weeknight dinner made in one skillet in under 30 minutes. Serve it with pasta, rice, potatoes, or vegetables for a comforting, family-friendly meal.
Why You’ll Love Creamy Parmesan Chicken
This one-skillet chicken is comforting, simple, and full of flavor. It’s an ideal choice when you want a satisfying meal with minimal fuss. Key benefits include:
- High in protein and richly flavored.
- Minimal prep and easy cleanup since it cooks in one pan.
- Easy to scale up for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
- Versatile—serves beautifully over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Simple, budget-friendly ingredients create a rich, creamy sauce. For this recipe you’ll use:
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are ideal; thighs also work if you prefer. Pound breasts to an even thickness for quick, even cooking.
- Seasonings – Salt, black pepper, oregano, paprika, and fresh parsley finish the dish.
- Butter – Forms the base of the sauce and adds richness.
- Flour – Used to thicken the sauce by making a quick roux in the skillet.
- Garlic – Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce bright savory flavor.
- Broth – Low-sodium chicken broth keeps the sauce balanced; vegetable broth can be substituted.
- Heavy cream – Creates the silky, luxurious texture of the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated Parmesan adds depth and a salty finish.
- Olive oil – Helps sear the chicken and keeps it moist.
How to Make Creamy Parmesan Chicken
Although it looks restaurant-worthy, this dish is straightforward to prepare at home.
- Prepare the chicken. Place breasts in a sealable bag and pound to an even thickness. Season both sides with oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Sear the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken 4–5 minutes per side until nicely seared and cooked through (165°F). Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Build the sauce. In the same skillet, add butter and minced garlic; cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook until it’s light golden, about 2–3 minutes, whisking constantly.
- Finish the sauce. Gradually pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, reduce heat to medium, and whisk until the sauce thickens.
- Season and combine. Remove from heat, stir in grated Parmesan, paprika, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet.
- Warm through and serve. Simmer gently over medium-low heat for a few minutes until heated. Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan, then serve warm.
Pro-Tips
Pound the chicken so pieces cook evenly and stay tender. If you don’t have a mallet, the bottom of a heavy skillet works well.
Taste and adjust as you go—seasonings can be tailored to your preference.
Watch the flour when making the roux; cook only until it turns light golden to avoid burning or clumping.
Serving Suggestions
This recipe is very adaptable. Serve the chicken over zucchini noodles, pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or risotto. You can also add vegetables—spinach, mushrooms, peas, broccoli, or sun-dried tomatoes—to the skillet for extra color, texture, and nutrients.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warm. The texture of the sauce can change if frozen, so freezing is not recommended.
Creamy Parmesan Chicken — Common Questions
Yes. Thighs are a flavorful, juicy option and work well whether boneless or bone-in. Adjust cooking time as needed for thickness.
Absolutely. Spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, peas, or broccoli are great additions that boost nutrition and flavor.
Yes. The dish is low in carbs, especially when served with low-carb sides like zucchini noodles, mushrooms, or leafy greens.
Yes. Prepare the sauce and chicken separately and refrigerate. Reheat the sauce, add the chicken, and simmer until warmed through.
More Scrumptious Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, try other easy chicken dishes that highlight simple ingredients and bold flavors.
- Marry Me Chicken
- Creamy Herb Chicken
- Cheddar Cheese Herb Chicken
- One Pot Chicken Tetrazzini
Creamy Parmesan Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless skinless
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1–2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Place the chicken in a large sealable bag and pound into four even pieces. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the chicken 4–5 minutes per side until seared and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter and garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook until light golden, stirring frequently.
- Pour in broth and heavy cream, reduce heat to medium, and whisk until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan, paprika, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Return the chicken and its juices to the skillet. Simmer over medium-low for 2–3 minutes until heated through.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve warm.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days.
Equipment
Nutrition
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Calories: 583kcal
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Carbohydrates: 9g
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Protein: 56g
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Fat: 35g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.