Description

This Creamy Parmesan Chicken recipe delivers a rich and flavorful dinner option featuring golden-brown breaded chicken breasts smothered in a luscious garlic-parsley cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, this skillet-cooked entrée pairs beautifully with pasta or steamed vegetables, making it perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Chicken and Coating

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup breadcrumbs (such as Panko)
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally (or 4 smaller breasts)

Sauce and Cooking

¼ cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream

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Instructions

Prepare Chicken: In a shallow dish, combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika thoroughly. Dredge each chicken breast half in the mixture, ensuring an even coating, and shake off any excess.
Cook Chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the coated chicken breasts and cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Adjust the heat as needed to avoid burning the coating. Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Make Sauce: Wipe out any leftover cheese or crumbs from the skillet. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, then sauté minced garlic, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Deglaze the skillet with chicken broth, stirring to lift any browned bits. Stir in the heavy cream and let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Finish and Serve: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, and simmer together for 1 minute to heat through. Serve the creamy Parmesan chicken immediately with your choice of pasta or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and melting quality.
Cutting the chicken breasts horizontally ensures even cooking and quicker cook times.
Panko breadcrumbs provide a crispier coating, but regular breadcrumbs work as well.
Adjust red pepper flakes to control the heat level of the sauce.
Serve with pasta such as fettuccine or steamed vegetables like broccoli to complement the creamy sauce.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.