Description
Creamy Chicken with Cheese brings comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Tender chicken smothered in a rich, velvety sauce becomes the star of weeknight meals that everyone craves.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1.5 lbs / 680 g)
Dairy:
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar (or mozzarella/gouda blend)
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Carefully dry 4 chicken breasts with paper towels, ensuring no moisture remains. Coat both sides generously with 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp onion powder.
- Warm 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (375°F). Carefully place seasoned chicken into hot pan. Sear exactly 5-6 minutes until golden brown, achieving internal temperature of 165°F.
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate. Reduce skillet heat to medium. Pour ½ cup chicken broth into pan, scraping all caramelized bits from bottom using a wooden spatula.
- Add 1 tsp Dijon mustard to broth. Stir thoroughly to combine and create a flavorful base for sauce.
- Pour 1 cup heavy cream into skillet. Gently simmer sauce for 3-4 minutes, watching carefully to prevent boiling. Sauce should thicken slightly and become glossy.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheddar and ½ cup Parmesan into sauce. Stir continuously until cheese melts completely, creating a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Return chicken to skillet. Spoon sauce generously over each piece. Cover and let simmer on low heat (200°F) for 5 minutes to marry flavors.
- Remove from heat. Scatter fresh chopped parsley on top for bright color and herbal freshness. Serve immediately over warm rice or pasta.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts of similar size for even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when searing to ensure a beautiful golden-brown crust develops on the chicken.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best melting quality and richer flavor compared to pre-packaged options.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or whole milk for heavy cream, understanding the sauce will be less thick and rich.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 507 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 885 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg