Creamy Parmesan Chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner: made in a single skillet in under 30 minutes. Pair it with pasta, rice, or vegetables for a comforting, family-friendly meal that’s ready fast and full of flavor.
Why You’ll Love Creamy Parmesan Chicken
This one-skillet chicken recipe combines convenience and comfort. It delivers rich, satisfying flavor with minimal prep and easy cleanup, making it ideal for busy weeknights. Highlights include:
- High in protein and intensely flavorful.
- Minimal prep and easy cleanup thanks to one-pan cooking.
- Scales easily for meal prep or larger gatherings.
- Versatile—delicious over pasta, rice, potatoes, or vegetables.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This creamy Parmesan chicken comes together with simple, budget-friendly ingredients. You’ll need:
- Chicken – Boneless, skinless breasts are preferred; thighs can be used if pounded thin or cut into pieces.
- Seasonings – Salt, pepper, dried oregano, paprika, and fresh parsley for garnish.
- Butter – Forms the base of the sauce and adds richness.
- Flour – A small amount to thicken the sauce into a light roux.
- Garlic – Freshly minced for best flavor (or use pre-minced for convenience).
- Broth – Low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth to control saltiness.
- Heavy cream – Creates the silky, creamy sauce.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated tastes best and melts into the sauce beautifully.
- Olive oil – For searing the chicken and keeping it moist.
How to Make Creamy Parmesan Chicken
This dish looks restaurant-quality but is straightforward to prepare at home:
- Prepare the chicken. Place breasts in a sealable bag and gently pound to even thickness, or slice into pieces. Season 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 seared and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Build the sauce. In the same skillet, add butter and garlic; cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook until lightly golden, about 2–3 minutes, whisking to avoid lumps.
- Finish the sauce. Add chicken broth and heavy cream, reduce heat to medium, and whisk until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan, paprika, and additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine and warm. Return the chicken and any juices to the skillet, simmer on medium-low for 2–3 minutes until heated through and coated in sauce.
- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Pro-Tips
Pound the chicken evenly. Even thickness ensures quick, consistent cooking and tender results—use a meat mallet, a heavy skillet, or slice the breasts thin.
Adjust seasonings. Taste the sauce before serving and tweak salt, pepper, or paprika to suit your preference.
Watch the flour. Cook the flour only until it turns a light golden color; overdue cooking can make the roux bitter.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy Parmesan chicken is very versatile. Serve it over pasta, mashed potatoes, rice, or zucchini noodles. You can also stir in vegetables—mushrooms, spinach, peas, or broccoli—during the sauce step to boost nutrition and color.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–5 days. Reheat in the microwave or gently on the stovetop until warmed through. The texture of the cream sauce can change after freezing, so this recipe is best stored in the fridge rather than frozen.
Common Questions
Yes. Thighs are a juicy, flavorful alternative and work well boneless or bone-in; adjust cooking time as needed.
Definitely. Fresh spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, or broccoli are great additions that pair well with the creamy sauce.
Yes. When served with low-carb sides like zucchini noodles or leafy greens, this dish fits a ketogenic plan.
You can cook the chicken and prepare the sauce ahead, storing them separately in the fridge. Reheat the sauce, add the chicken, and simmer until everything is heated through.
More Scrumptious Chicken Recipes
If you enjoy this recipe, try other easy, flavorful chicken dishes for weeknight dinners or special meals.
- 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 to even thickness. Season both sides 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 the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add butter and garlic; cook until fragrant. Stir in flour and cook 2–3 minutes 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 chicken and juices to the skillet, simmer on medium-low 2–3 minutes until heated through.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve warm.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days.
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 583 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 9 g |
Protein: 56 g |
Fat: 35 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.