Creamy Garlic Chicken

Looking for the perfect weekday meal? My less than thirty minute Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe is the no-fuss recipe you need on those busy days!

Tender chicken breast smothered in an irresistible creamy garlic sauce. This super yummy creamy garlic chicken recipe paired with your favorite low carb sides makes this the perfect choice!

This recipe comes together super fast and is perfect for a weeknight dinner.  It is similar to an Alfredo but has more garlic and less parmesan cheese.  It will definitely be a family favorite!

Ingredients and substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this creamy garlic chicken recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For the printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

What is creamy garlic chicken sauce made of?

3 tablespoons butter (42 grams) - I usually start off with avocado oil for my recipes but I really like the flavor the butter brings to this dish.  Any oil will work, though.

1 pound chicken Breasts, cut into bite size pieces (.5 kg) - We are using 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe.  I like to cut the pieces into bite size chunks so they cook much more quickly.  This recipe would also be amazing with shrimp!

½ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon roasted garlic - This recipe calls for roasted garlic and you should be able to find it in a jar in the grocery store or as a paste.  If you can't find it, you can use regular garlic, or you can roast your own garlic. 

½ cup chicken broth (118mL) - This helps drive home that delicious chicken flavor.

1 cup heavy cream (236 mL) - It wouldn't be creamy garlic chicken without cream!

½ teaspoon Xanthan gum

¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese (28g) - I like to use shredded Parmesan cheese to finish off this creamy sauce.

How do you thicken a creamy sauce?

Xanthan Gum - This may seem like an obscure ingredient, but it is actually quite common. It is used for thickening and emulsifying sauces and is commonly found in store-bought ice cream and sauces. I like to use it because it is less carbs than flour and gluten free. You can skip this if you don't want to use it and let your sauce simmer for a bit longer to thicken.  You could also use arrowroot starch.

How to make creamy garlic chicken

This section explains how to make this creamy chicken recipe step by step. For a full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

Step 1 - We're going to first heat our butter in a heavy bottom skillet over medium heat. Then we are going to start cooking our chicken breast pieces. Season them with salt and pepper and cook them for about 5 minutes.

Step 2 - Now we are going to stir in the roasted garlic and cook for a few minutes more. Now comes the cream and chicken broth for our creamy garlic chicken. Once that is stirred in we can sprinkle the xanthan gum on top and bring the creamy sauce up to a simmer.

Step 3 - When the sauce is thick, top with the parmesan cheese, remove from the heat and serve.

💡Use a probe meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of your chicken breast is 165F.

How do I make my chicken soft and not chewy?

Chewy chicken could mean it is under cooked.  You really want to make sure your chicken breast have an internal temperature of 165F.  Lower thank 165F could result in chewy chicken and much higher than 165F could lead to dry chicken.

How do I roast garlic for creamy garlic chicken

This creamy garlic chicken recipe calls for roasted garlic.  Here is some roasted garlic you may be able to find in the grocery store, but if you can't, you can follow these simple instructions.  Pre-heat your oven to 400F.  Cut the top off of the garlic bulb with a sharp knife.  Wrap the garlic bulb completely in foil and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes.  To remove the roasted garlic from the pods, squeeze the garlic bulb and the garlic will come out as a paste.

Serving ideas

You may be wondering what to serve with this creamy garlic chicken recipe.  I think a side of mashed cauliflower or mashed potatoes would be amazing.  Some people serve it with pasta or zucchini noodles.  You could also serve it over steamed green beans or any vegetable.

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