This Creamy Garlic Chicken is a fast and easy recipe that I think looks impressive, yet requires very little effort and time in the kitchen! This recipe is made with very few simple ingredients making it the perfect weeknight family dinner to enjoy at the end of a long day. This delicious recipe has quickly become one of your favourites, being viewed over 27 million times across my social accounts! It is also my most made recipe.

The star of the show is the chicken; it is seasoned beautifully and then dusted with flour, creating a crust for the gloriously creamy, indulgent garlic sauce to cling to. Making this meal at home is much cheaper than the cost for ordering it out, yet it tastes incredible and feels fancy, all in under 20 minutes.
Can you make Creamy Garlic Chicken ahead of time?
Yes, Creamy Garlic Chicken can be made ahead of time. You can refrigerate the cooked chicken with the sauce (to stop the chicken drying out) for up to 3 days. It’s not suitable to freeze.
Can I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast for Creamy Garlic Chicken?
Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for the chicken breast in this Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe. Cooking the chicken thighs will take a little longer; cook for 6–8 minutes or until just cooked through and golden.
What is best to serve with Creamy Garlic Chicken?
Try mashed potatoes, a classic potato gratin, rice, pasta or fresh crusty bread. For veggie sides, try steamed greens, a fresh rocket (arugula) or baby spinach salad, steamed broccoli, cauliflower or green beans.
Watch how to make Creamy Garlic Chicken
How do I cook the perfect chicken breast for Creamy Garlic Chicken?
These are my top tips for cooking chicken breast so that you can make the perfect Creamy Garlic Chicken!
The speed at which the chicken cooks depends on the thickness of the chicken. If in doubt, cook the chicken at a slightly lower temperature (medium–low) for a longer period of time (approximately 6–8 minutes). This will ensure a golden colour and even sear. Super high temperatures will cause the oil to splatter and the chicken to cook too quickly and blacken on the outside while still being undercooked on the inside.
If using smaller chicken breasts, use 3–4 instead of 2.
Print
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Perfectly cooked chicken in an easy, creamy garlic sauce. All on the table in less than 20 minutes!
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally to make 4 steaks
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ¼ cup (35 g) plain (all-purpose flour)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
Sauce
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
- ½ cup (125 ml) chicken stock
- 300 ml (10 fl oz) thick (double/heavy) cream
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- ½ cup (50 g) grated parmesan
- Salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
To serve
- Mashed potatoes, steamed rice or pasta
- Steamed greens
- 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, sweet paprika, onion powder and thyme. Press the chicken into the flour so that all sides are evenly coated.
- Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large, deep frying pan over medium–high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked, turning once halfway through.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
- To the same pan, add the butter for the sauce. Once melted, add the garlic, stirring for 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken stock and cook for 1–2 minutes until it has evaporated by at least half. Stir in the cream and Dijon mustard, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Stir through the parmesan, season to taste, then return the chicken to the pan for 2–3 minutes or until the chicken is heated through. Serve the chicken with rice, mashed potatoes or pasta and a side of steamed greens. Top with freshly chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Notes
MAKE AHEAD
Creamy Garlic chicken can be made ahead to make weeknights that little bit easier. Refrigerate the cooked chicken with the sauce (to stop the chicken drying out) for up to 3 days. Not suitable to freeze.
LEFTOVERS
Creamy Garlic Chicken leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Refrigerate the cooked chicken with the sauce (to stop the chicken drying out) for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Not suitable to freeze. To reheat on the stovetop: Reheat over low heat in a covered pan, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water if the sauce thickens too much. To reheat in the microwave: Reheat in short bursts (30–40 seconds at a time), stirring in between bursts to ensure even heating. Add a little extra water if needed to loosen the sauce. Note: Cream-based sauces can sometimes separate or become grainy when reheated. To help prevent this, reheat gently over low heat and stir well. If the sauce starts to split, whisk in a small splash of cream or warm milk to bring it back together.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Main dish
- Method: pan
- Cuisine: American
Gigi Forrest says:
This was an easy and tasty meal, hubby loved it, it made enough for 2 nights , even better
Love your recipes x
Nicole says:
Hi Gigi, great that you loved it and even better that you had enough for two nights. Thanks so much for your feedback and rating. Nic x
Raquel S. says:
This recipe is insanely delicious. My husband raves about it when I make it.
Nicole says:
What beautiful feedback, Raquel! I am so happy you enjoyed it. Thanks for the rating. Nic x
Danni Hurley says:
If I make this ahead of time, how do I heat it to serve it?
Nicole says:
Hi Danni, this was such a great question. I realise that I hadn’t included reheating instructions for this recipe. Thanks for letting me know. I’ve updated the recipe, so if you check it out here you’ll find the info. Thanks so much! Nic x
galilea says:
As a beginner cook, this recipe was easy to make and superrrr delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Nicole says:
So glad you enjoyed it, Galilea! Thanks for rating the recipe. Nic x
Jared says:
Amazing and easy, I’m very much a beginner cook and this came together really nice. Will definitely be making it again, thanks for the recipe
Nicole says:
Wonderful to hear, Jared! Thanks for the rating! Nic x
Pratha says:
Hi! Is there any way to pin this on pinterest 🙂 Amazing recipe by the way, my mum and I wholeheartedly enjoyed this one:)
Nicole says:
Hi Pratha, hmm … I think there is an additional feature on some websites where you can “pin” automatically. Unfortunately we don’t have that feature at the moment, and can only add to Pinterest, but we may be looking to include it in the future. Nic x
Kim Clark says:
Love this meal! I make it at least a couple times a month and my whole family loves it! I add some lemon to the sauce every time I make it and it takes the flavor to a whole new level!
Nicole says:
Hi Kim, I’m so glad you enjoyed this, and the lemon tweak sounds fabulous. This is one of my absolute favourites, too! Nic x
Jona says:
How do you make the mashed potatoes?
Nicole says:
Hi Jona, here’s my Freezer-friendly Mashed Potato recipe. Nic x
Casandra says:
Delicious. I used Parmesan and feta as I didn’t have enough parm, but I can’t imagine choice of cheese would make or break this dish.
Annie L says:
Easy meal & the greatest part is that it was a family favorite! So delicious! Added to my list for future recipes! Thank you so much 🙂
Nicole says:
Hi Annie, I’m so happy to hear your family enjoyed it! Thanks for the lovely feedback. Nic x
Amanda Dellalbani says:
Made it . Loved it. Thank you!
Nicole says:
Thanks for the lovely feedback! I’m so happy to hear this. Nic x
Kat says:
Absolutely divine! Husband said he would pay for it in a restaurant. Will definitely be added to the regular rotation!
Nicole says:
This is so wonderful to hear! I’m so glad you both enjoyed it – we love it too! Nic x
Allison says:
I could drink this garlic sauce! So good. The chicken took quite a bit longer to cook and even still one piece was slightly underdone. We will definitely repeat this meal!
Linda White says:
I absolutely love this recipe, cooked it on the recommendation from our son. Just delicious and makes my mouth water thinking about it.
Nicole says:
I am so glad that you and your son both love the recipe! xx
Emily says:
10/10!!!! You’ll feel fancy while eating it and enjoy every bite!!! Paired mine with homemade mashed potatoes and green beans.
Nicole says:
That is so wonderful to hear! Love it! xxx
Baggaley family says:
This is just one of your outstanding recipes we make at home now.
They are so simple, we make them midweek yet so PACKED with flavour and texture. You’re a very clever cook with an excellent palette and way with recipes
Nicole says:
Thank you so much for your absolutely beautiful comments. I am so thrilled to hear you love the recipes! xx
Amelia says:
Cooked this creamy garlic chicken for my Mum & Father, they totally licked the plates clean and insisted that I cook it again for them! Kudos for a great recipe x
Davicia says:
Made twice because the first time I didn’t have unsalted butter and it was a touch over salted. Second go ‘round, I followed the recipe exactly and it was a hit…..again! My toddler devoured the chicken, and both times the family asked for more sauce. Thank you for sharing this!
Erin says:
This was delicious and easy! My kids loved it. I didn’t have cream or chicken stock but used a small amount of milk and veggie stock and added a bit of flour to thicken it. Make it!
Maureen Norris says:
I do like the sound of your recipes .
Many thanks for posting them
Crystal says:
I made this tonight for meal prep for a few days. My husband likes spice so I added a bit of cayenne to the sauce at the same time I added the Dijon. Absolutely amazing! I also filetted my chicken breasts and then once cooked I sliced them before putting them back in the sauce simply to make it easier to eat (I have lunch during meetings alot so anything I can just stab or scoop is preferable). This will be on regular rotation in our house im sure.
Kelly says:
Another great recipe. I made it using dairy free cream (allergy) & no parmesan. The whole family loved it.
I keep waiting for a recipe fail, but every recipe I have cooked so far has been very good!
Tash says:
Had this tonight and it was so creamy and delicious. Chicken was super tender. Can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow for lunch.
Tara says:
Made this for a family dinner and it was so delicious. The sauce just hits the spot and wasn’t complicated to make. Definitely doing it again and again!
Jordan Cormier says:
Does this need to be made using a cast iron pan? I’m still learning to cook and don’t own a cast iron yet 🙁
Cherie says:
My husband has asked me to put this on the regular dinner rotation. It’s so delicious – the sauce really takes it to the next level
Sandra says:
Just made it with gee instead of butter and creamy oat milk instead of cream and it was absolutely delicious!!!
Priscilla K says:
Oops I accidentally rated it without adding stars!
5 stars!!
So so amazing! Will definitely make again.
Priscilla K says:
Made this tonight for myself, partner and 2.5 year old. So so so good. Best meal we have made for 2024!
The flavour of the rub is amazing, combined with the garlicky cream sauce, wow!
We had it with mash.
Will definitely make again!
Talia says:
This was DELICIOUS! I made this for family and we felt like we were having restaurant food. 100% will add to our regular menu, SO happy I found your website and socials.
Tanya says:
Made this tonight and it was so delicious. It will definitely become a regular meal in our home.
Isabel Freeman says:
Oh my goodness! Made this tonight just for two of us and it was worthy of a dinner party. Very easy and super quick to make. Looked good on the dinner plate too. Served with mash and home grown green beans. Will most definitely be making it regularly. Thank you for a super tasty easy recipe
Rebecca says:
Was delicious. The chicken cooked up super quick. Was very tender and the sauce as yummy. Hubby had 3 servings lol. Will definitely make again. Sent to my daughter to try as she has 2 children who would love it! Thank you for a quick and delicious chicken recipe.
Taylor G. says:
This was such a tasty meal! So flavorful. Made me feel like a Michelin Star Chef! After trying it, my husband said, “I hope you make this meal for the rest of our lives.” 😂 Thanks for sharing ❤️
Bree says:
Easy recipe and SO delish! The sauce is so yummy.
Rochelle says:
My husband said best chicken he has ever eaten, it’s so delicious !!
Fiona says:
Delish! I used about a quarter of the cream, and that was more than enough sauce for us. Served it on rice with a pile of steamed greens.
For those in Australia – the Mingle brand ‘use me on everything’ seasoning is very similar to the mix in the recipe for the chicken seasoning and making that switch makes this easy recipe even easier!
Nicole says:
So wonderful to hear! Thank you for your lovely message – Love the idea of the seasoning swap! Nic x
Kay says:
Add this to your dinner menu it is absolutely delicious!! I have made this a few times now and it’s a hit with every family member. I’ve made it when we had guests too and they thought it was absolutely amazing. Sauce is delicious and creamy and I serve the chicken with mash, steamed carrot, broccoli and green beans.
Lydia says:
so good and flavorful! cooked potatoes in the oven and then mixed them in with the sauce. turned out perfectly
Mary says:
I don’t ever take the time to leave reviews, but I had to make an exception for this one. Made this tonight and it was phenomenal! It will absolutely be going in our regular dinner rotation. Every bit as good as everyone said it was. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
KP says:
This is going to be a regular! A few subs purely due to pantry stock vs fridge stock!
– cream for coconut cream
– parmasen for nutritional yeast (2 tabs)
Served with mash and vege! yum!
Nicole says:
LOVE it! Thank you for taking the time to write! Nic x
Anna says:
Amazing, so much flavour! Quick tasty for the whole family!
Good one for after work dinner!
Katie says:
A strong family favourite! Delicious flavour packed sauce and a quick and easy dinner to whip up during the week
Jodie says:
The family loved it! Definitely will become a regular dinner, so flavoursome
Vanessa Curtis says:
Best way to have chicken. Everyone loved it and asked for seconds
s.i. says:
This one is a fave. So flavorful, inexpensive and easy to make!
Jessica says:
This was so amazing, it was devoured by everyone without a word said between bites. Served with roast broccoli. Will be making again, tasted like something I’d get at the pub for $30!
Catherine says:
Made the garlic chicken tonight for my family and it was a hit! So much flavour and easy to prep. Was quick too for a midweek meal. Thank you!
Lisa says:
Didn’t have heavy cream so I ended up using half & half instead. Still turned out excellent! So much flavor🤤
Alex says:
Weekly staple! Been making this recipe for months, since I discovered it on Instagram. It’s my go-to Sunday night dinner (and makes for great leftovers for Monday at work). Everyone I’ve made it for has loved it. I pair it with asparagus. Amazing.
10/10 would recommend!
Stephanie says:
So delicious. Chicken is juicy and paired with the sauce makes it feel like a treat. having a sides of green is perfect. My 3yr old loves it. And it is a staple at our home now.
Rabab says:
Sooo yummy!!!
I added onions to the pan too
Really easy to make and so delicious
Phoebe Vinson says:
10/10 this was AMAZING and easy to make. Will definitely make again
Rachel Stokes says:
Such a tasty meal. The family absolutely loved this creamy chicken with mash potato and greens.
Ashley Rivera says:
I made this tonight and my entire family loved it? The sauce was so good! Love the Dijon mustard in it!
We will definitely add this to our rotation
Melanie says:
As a garlic lover, this was right up my street! Served with mash & veggies & my fussy 12 year old asked for a second helping!! Might try with pasta next time. Absolutely gorgeous recipe 😍
Heather says:
I made it for my husband and I. I added a little extra mustard and I did stone ground(my fave). I added mushrooms, and made mashed potatoes. SOOOOO GOOD. A new favorite meal:)
Natalie says:
Made this tonight! Hubby said he would order that in a nice restaurant 😄 I used half the cream, a splash more water and added mushrooms. Super yummy!
christine says:
OMG! This was amazing! Will be making this over and over again.