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Creamy Garlic Thyme Chicken Recipe: One-Pan Comfort Food in 40 Minutes

Creamy Garlic Thyme Chicken

Golden seared chicken breasts simmer gently in a creamy garlic, thyme, and Parmesan sauce. This comforting one-pan dinner serves four and takes about 40 minutes from start to finish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 breasts Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, about 6 ounces each
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons All-purpose flour, for light dredging
Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves Garlic, finely minced
  • 1 cup Low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup Heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/2 cup Finely grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped, optional

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Pat the chicken dry. Season both sides with the kosher salt and black pepper, then lightly coat each breast with flour and shake off the excess.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden, then transfer it to a plate.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds, just until fragrant without allowing it to brown.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Stir in the heavy cream and thyme. Simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sauce starts to thicken.
  6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet, cover loosely, and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, until the thickest part reaches 165°F/74°C.
  7. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with parsley and additional thyme or Parmesan, if desired.

Notes

Pound thick chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook evenly. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer after adding the cream and Parmesan to help prevent separation. For a thicker sauce, reduce the broth-and-cream mixture for an extra 2 to 3 minutes before returning the chicken.