Description
Creamy “Easy Cream Cheese Chicken” delivers comfort on a plate, blending tender chicken with rich, velvety sauce. Dinner guests will savor this simple yet luxurious main course that promises satisfaction in every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
Seasonings and Spices:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) butter
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup (180 milliliters) chicken broth (plus more if needed)
- Fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Soften cream cheese in the microwave until pliable, then chop into small, uniform pieces for quick melting.
- Butterfly chicken breasts horizontally to create four even, thin cutlets. Season generously with garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Warm a blend of butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a perfect searing environment for the chicken.
- Cook chicken pieces for 5-6 minutes per side, achieving a golden-brown exterior and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Remove chicken from skillet and set aside, keeping warm to maintain moisture.
- Reduce skillet heat and sauté chopped onions until they become translucent and develop a light caramelized edge, releasing their sweet aromatics.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, stirring quickly to prevent burning and allow its fragrant essence to permeate the cooking surface.
- Pour chicken broth into the skillet, then incorporate softened cream cheese, stirring continuously to create a silky, uniform sauce.
- Blend in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, adjusting the sauce’s flavor profile and heat level.
- Gently return chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces in the creamy sauce and allowing them to reheat thoroughly.
- If sauce appears too thick, gradually thin with additional chicken broth until reaching desired consistency.
- Taste and fine-tune seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
- Serve immediately, ensuring each portion is generously coated with the luxurious sauce.
Notes
- Soften cream cheese thoroughly to ensure a smooth, lump-free sauce that coats the chicken evenly.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness, preventing overcooking and maintaining juicy, tender meat.
- Customize the dish by swapping Italian seasoning with herbs like thyme or rosemary for a personalized flavor profile.
- Make it low-carb friendly by serving over cauliflower rice or zucchini
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg