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Chicken/ Cream/ Garlic/ Hearty Dinners

Creamy Garlic Chicken

November 30, 2022 (Last Updated: August 21, 2023) by Chris Collins

This chicken is drenched in a creamy garlic sauce and couldn’t be easier to make!

Sometimes, life just calls for soft & juicy chicken breasts with a dreamy sauce to go alongside. Sound up your street? Follow me…

close up overhead shot of chicken breast and creamy garlic sauce on white plate with broccoli and smashed potatoes

Roasted Garlic Sauce

Sure, creamy garlic sauce is great, but creamy roasted garlic sauce is SO much better! By roasting the garlic you not only transform the texture, but you also transform the flavour too:

  • Texture – Roasting the garlic low and slow turns the garlic buttery soft. It can then be easily squeezed out of the skins and blended into a sauce so beautifully.
  • Flavour – The garlic turns from a rather strong, pungent flavour, to something much more mellow. The garlic ends up gorgeously sweet and nutty.

Whilst it does take a little time, it’s fairly low maintenance. You can just bung it in the oven and crack on with the rest of the recipe when needed.

Process shots: slice tip off garlic bulb (photo 1), wrap in foil (photo 2), roast (photo 3), squeeze out garlic and mash with fork (photo 4).

4 step by step photos showing how to roast garlic

Pan Fried Chicken Breast

The mighty chicken breast is such a versatile cut of meat. The backbone of weeknight dinners if you will. Admittedly chicken breast does need a little dressing up, which we’ll get to in just a sec, but first, let’s talk about prepping chicken breast.

Slicing the chicken

Typically if I’m frying chicken breasts, I like to slice them right through the centre to double the quantity. Not only will this reduce cooking time, but it also allows the chicken to cook through more evenly.

Dredging the chicken

For this recipe, we’re then going to coat the chicken in seasoned flour. I do this for two main reasons:

  1. Dredging the chicken with flour creates a nice golden crust on the chicken when it fries.
  2. That crust will also absorb the sauce and help it cling to the chicken.

Can I use chicken thigh instead?

This recipe will definitely work with chicken thighs (given they are boneless and skinless). You won’t need to slice them through the centre, instead, I recommend pounding them to even thickness before dredging through the flour.

One note when it comes to frying the chicken, I recommend using a pan that isn’t non-stick. Something like a cast-iron skillet. That way you can build up some flavour in the pan and incorporate it with the sauce. Those small golden/char pieces in the pan after you’ve fried the chicken? Free flavour!

Process shots: add chicken to chopping board (photo 1), slice through the centre (photo 2), add to seasoned flour (photo 3), coat then shake excess (photo 4), add to pan with oil and butter (photo 5), fry both sides until golden (photo 6).

6 step by step photos showing how to prepare chicken breasts

Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Once the chicken has been fried, you’ll want to deglaze the pan to collect all that flavour. To do this, I recommend using white wine. Not only will the bubbles help lift the flavour, but the touch of acidity will help cut through the richness of the sauce. Once you’ve reduced the wine right down to burn off the booze, we’ll create the base of the sauce with chicken stock and cream.

Sauce Seasonings

You’ll have already created a fairly good flavour profile with the ingredients discussed, but just to add a little ‘something something’ I love adding a small pinch of nutmeg, alongside some fresh parsley. The nutmeg helps to gently highlight the nutty tones of the roasted garlic, whilst the parsley adds a pop of colour and a subtle burst of flavour too.

Process shots: deglaze pan (photo 1), add cream and stock (photo 2), add seasonings & garlic and simmer (photo 3), add chicken and coat (photo 4).

4 step by step photos showing how to make creamy garlic chicken

Serving Creamy Garlic Chicken

When it comes to serving, here I’ve served with Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Broccoli, but any sort of Potato/Veg combo will do the trick.

Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this creamy garlic chicken shall we!?

close up shot of creamy garlic chicken in large cast iron skillet with spoon in background

How to make Creamy Garlic Chicken (Full Recipe & Video)

close up overhead shot of chicken breast and creamy garlic sauce on white plate with broccoli and smashed potatoes

Creamy Garlic Chicken

This chicken is drenched in a creamy garlic sauce and couldn't be easier to make!
5 from 1 vote
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Servings (click & slide): 4
Course: Dinner / Main Course
Cuisine: Western
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Calories per serving: 446kcal
Cost per serving: ÂŁ2 / $2.50

Equipment:

  • Large Pan, Tongs & Wooden Spoon
  • Large Shallow Dish (for dredging chicken)
  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
  • Jug (for stock)
  • Fine Cheese Grater
  • Aluminium Foil

Ingredients (check list):

  • 2x 9oz/250g Chicken Breasts (see notes)
  • 1 cup / 240ml Heavy/Double Cream, at room temp
  • 3/4 cup / 180ml Chicken Stock
  • 1/4 cup / 60ml Dry White Wine
  • 1/4 cup / 20g freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1/4 cup / 35g Flour
  • 1 tbsp finely diced Fresh Parsley
  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil, plus more as needed
  • 1 tsp EACH: Garlic Powder, Salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper, plus more to taste
  • small pinch of Ground Nutmeg (see notes)
  • 1 small bulb of Garlic

Instructions:

  • Slice the top off of the bulb of garlic to expose the cloves. Place on a square of aluminium foil, drizzle with olive oil then scrunch up to cover the garlic. Place in the oven at 180C/350F for 45-60mins, or until very soft, golden and caramelized. Don't rush the process and crank up the heat, low and slow is the aim of the game. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze out the roasted garlic and smooth it out with a fork. Place to one side.
  • Horizontally slice each chicken breast through the centre to create 4 even-sized breasts. In a large shallow dish combine flour with 1 tsp salt & garlic powder and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Dredge each chicken breast through the flour to coat, then shake off excess and place to one side.
  • Add 1 tbsp butter and olive oil to a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and fry both sides for a few mins, or until golden on the outside and just about cooked through the centre. Remove and place chicken to one side.
  • Pour in the wine and simmer until it's mostly all evaporated, deglazing the pan with your wooden spoon as necessary. Lower heat slightly, then pour in chicken stock and cream. Bring to a simmer, then stir in parmesan, roasted garlic, parsley, salt & pepper (to taste) and a small pinch of nutmeg.
  • Simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, stirring somewhat frequently. Add the chicken back to the pan and coat in the sauce. Serve up and enjoy!

Quick 1 min demo!

Notes:

a) Flour - Coating the chicken in flour will help give it a nice golden crust as it fries. It also helps absorb the sauce and helps it cling to the chicken. I do recommend using it, but if you don't have flour/don't want to use it, just directly coat the chicken with half of the seasoning (i.e. 1/2 tsp salt & garlic powder and 1/4 tsp black pepper).
b) Chicken - You can use thighs if you'd prefer. I'd recommend pounding them to even thickness before dredging in flour. They'll also take a little longer to cook through than breasts.
c) Nutmeg - This highlights the sweet/nutty tones of the roasted garlic. A little goes a long way, so don't go overboard. You don't necessarily want a prominent taste of nutmeg, it just adds to the complexity of flavour the roasted garlic offers.
d) Roasted Garlic - This is the backbone of the sauce. Roasting the garlic transforms the flavour, so I highly recommend doing it. Just go low and slow until super soft and caramelized (you can take it out and check it throughout).
e) Serving - Here I've served with Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Broccoli, but any sort of Potato / Veg combo will do the trick.
f) Calories - Assuming half the flour/seasoning sticks to the chicken.

Your Private Notes:

Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 446 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 31.96g49%
Saturated Fat 17.408g87%
Trans Fat 0.173g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.852g
Monounsaturated Fat 10.568g
Cholesterol 159mg53%
Sodium 509mg21%
Potassium 388mg11%
Carbohydrates 7.88g3%
Fiber 0.3g1%
Sugar 1.88g2%
Protein 29.02g58%
Vitamin A 1136IU23%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 118mg12%
Iron 1.48mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.
Tried this recipe?Show me how you got on by tagging @dontgobaconmyheart_ on IG and #dontgobaconmyheart
Looking for more?You'll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook 'Comfy'

For another garlic chicken recipe check out my Garlic Butter Chicken and Boursin Chicken!

For more similar recipes check out these beauties:

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4 Comments

  • Reply
    Bree Lynk
    February 1, 2023 at 4:14 am

    What could I use besides white wine? Chicken stock maybe? Thanks for your reply!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      February 1, 2023 at 10:25 am

      Hi Bree! Yes, I’d use stock. C.

  • Reply
    Mary
    December 8, 2022 at 10:32 pm

    5 stars
    Wow!! This was an absolute show stopper. Thanks for the recipe!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      December 9, 2022 at 3:31 pm

      Great to hear, Mary! Thanks for the review! C.

    5 KNOCKOUT

    DINNERS

    YOU'LL NEVER STOP MAKING!

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