Description
This Creamy Garlic Chicken and Broccoli Skillet is a quick and delicious one-pan meal featuring tender chicken pieces cooked in a rich garlic cream sauce with fresh broccoli. Perfect for weeknight dinners, it combines comforting flavors with healthy veggies in just 7 simple steps.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Veggies
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 4 cloves minced garlic
Liquids and Fat
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the Skillet: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the hot skillet. Season them generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté it for approximately 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned to avoid bitterness.
- Add Broth and Cream: Pour the chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet with the garlic, stirring well to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to allow the flavors to meld.
- Return the Chicken: Place the cooked chicken back into the skillet. Allow it to simmer in the creamy sauce for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the chicken.
- Steam the Broccoli: Add the broccoli florets into the skillet during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Stir them in so they steam in the sauce, becoming tender and vibrantly green.
- Serve and Garnish: Once the chicken is fully cooked and broccoli tender, remove the skillet from heat. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter dish, though the sauce will be less rich.
- If broccoli florets are large, cut them into smaller pieces to ensure even cooking.
- For a dairy-free option, consider using coconut milk instead of heavy cream, and omit Parmesan garnish.
- Serve over cooked rice, pasta, or cauliflower rice for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: creamy garlic chicken, chicken skillet, broccoli chicken recipe, quick chicken dinner, one-pan meal, low carb chicken recipes
