This Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken recipe is the definition of a chicken dinner winner. Tender, juicy chicken pan-seared and smothered in decadent, richly-flavored sauce with tons of garlic, Cajun spices, and fresh herbs. From start to finish, this recipe is so easy. Pair this saucy chicken with mashed potatoes for a cozy meal!

creamy garlic herb chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans on white plate

My lawddd, just when I think I get bored with finding new ways to whip up chicken, along comes this baddie right here. Whew! It’s been in frequent rotation over at my crib because it is incredibly, wildly good. Since I’ve been trying to limit my red meat intake; it’s usually salmon, chicken, pork, or a veggie-forward meal that are my go-to’s. I know y’all love easy chicken dinners, and well, add this one to your must-make list STAT!

Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken 😋

What’s it all about? We’ve got Cajun-spiced, pan-seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich + robust pan sauce that’s flavor-loaded to the max. If you love garlic (ahem, who doesn’t tho)…get into the fact that this dish calls for 10 cloves, yup. Caramelized, whole garlic cloves are far superior to minced garlic because they melt in your mouth. Heaps of fresh herbs like tarragon and parsley add herbaceous notes combined with a little parmesan cheesiness to round this dish out. It’s an easy, flavorful powerhouse!

⇢ Whether it’s my Jamaican Curry Chicken, this Miso Salmon, my Lasagna Soup, or BBR community fave Creamy Shrimp and Grits…it’s all about flavorrr.

creamy chicken breasts in black cast iron pan with beige linen on the handle

Recipe Highlights & Why You’ll Love It ♡

A lil’ roundup of things that make this creamy garlic herb chicken recipe SING:

  • EASY & FOOLPROOF: One of my favorite things about this recipe is how effortless it all is. The main steps include searing the chicken and then building the pan sauce, it’s nearly impossible to mess up, ha. Easy chicken recipes like this one are perfect for busy weeknights, entertaining, and everything in between.
  • LOW-EFFORT/HIGH-REWARD: Oh yes, my favorite term for recipes that are no-fuss and are full of amazing deliciousness, peeps. This creamy chicken dish comes together in 1-pan and in under 1 hour, too. Think of this recipe as a quick + easy weeknight meal that everyone will get hyped over!
  • FRESH, MEGA FLAVORRR: The creamy pan sauce is out of this world banging, y’all. There’s lotsa garlic, sweet shallot, dijon mustard, Cajun spice, fresh herbs, and a lil’ salty parm. Idk about you but a good, flavor-filled pan sauce will do it for me every single time.
ingredients for creamy garlic chicken laid out on beige surface

Here’s What’s Needed For This Dish:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: I like chicken breasts here because they cook fairly quicker than bone-in/skin-on parts.
  • Cajun seasoning: This type of seasoning is a blend that contains salt, red pepper, black pepper, garlic, and more. Brands like Slap Ya Mama or Tony Chachere’s stay in my kitchen pantry for all that Cajun-forward flava!
  • Olive oil & butter: We’ll use both to sear + cook with.
  • Shallot: A little milder than an onion with a touch of sweetness.
  • Garlic: We’re using a disrespectful amount of garlic in this recipe, I’m talking 10 cloves for a wicked good garlic experience, amen.
  • Chicken stock/broth: For a flavorful, saucy pan sauce.
  • Lemon juice: Brings a touch of balance to the party with its brightness.
  • Spices: I use garlic powder (more garlic essence, yuh) + red pepper flakes.
  • Dijon mustard: Ugh, this singular ingredient brings so much flavor to nearly anything it touches especially when developing sauces.
  • Heavy cream: Adds an unmatched level of creaminess and richness, yum.
  • Fresh herbs: I use fresh tarragon and fresh parsley throughout. Tarragon has a lovely licorice-like aroma with its signature pungency. However, fresh basil is also a good substitute!
  • Parmesan cheese: Rounds out the pan sauce with its salty, luscious self.
creamy garlic herb chicken in cast iron pan

How To Make This Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken Recipe:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  1. Season the chicken with cajun seasoning, to taste. Use your hands to massage the seasoning into the chicken to fully coat. Set the chicken aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, place the chicken into the skillet and sauté the chicken for 4-6 minutes on each side until a nice golden sear appears. Then set the chicken aside on a clean plate.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the butter into the pan. When melted, add the shallot and garlic cloves, and sauté until the shallot is translucent and the garlic cloves are lightly caramelized, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add the stock/broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, red pepper flakes (if using), and dijon mustard, then use a wooden utensil to stir the mixture, scraping up any bits. Let the mixture come up to a simmer until slightly reduced.
  5. Then stir in the cream and add the fresh tarragon and parsley, stirring well to fully combine. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once achieved, reduce the heat back to medium-low.
  6. Sprinkle in the parmesan and stir into the pan sauce. Return the chicken breasts to the pan along with any residual juices that have been collected. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken and let simmer until the chicken is warmed and cooked through for doneness.
  7. Remove from heat. Garnish the dish with more tarragon, if desired. Serve this creamy garlic herb chicken immediately alongside your favorite side items and enjoy ya life, mmm 😋.
chicken breasts with sauce and mashed potatoes and green beans on white plate with fork and knife

Recipe Notes, Tips + Tricks & More

  • Chicken parts: As written, I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. However, feel free to use other chicken parts like bone-in/skin-on or boneless/skinless chicken thighs if you choose.
  • Want a heavy cream alternative? The use of heavy cream adds a creamy mouthfeel to the pan sauce. A good sub for heavy cream is coconut cream!
  • A note on parmesan cheese: Fresh grated cheese creates razor-thin, wispy shreds of cheese that melt beautifully in a pan sauce. Pssst, using pre-shredded cheese (which contains an anti-caking coating that prevents the cheese from melting smoothly) may result in your pan sauce texture looking funny, oof.

What To Serve Alongside Your Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken:

We love serving this dish alongside mashed potatoes and green beans (as pictured) with spoonfuls of the pan sauce on everything, gah. However, this creamy garlic herb chicken will pair nicely with side items like:

creamy garlic herb chicken on white plates with glass of water on the side

Chicken dinners are clutch, and this Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken is running all the way to the proverbial bank! Cha-ching! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More flavor-loaded meals you’ll enjoy:

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chicken breasts with sauce and mashed potatoes and green beans on white plate with fork and knife

1-Pan, Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 13 reviews
  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken recipe is the definition of a chicken dinner winner. Tender, juicy chicken pan-seared and smothered in decadent, richly-flavored sauce with tons of garlic, Cajun spices, and fresh herbs. From start to finish, this recipe is so easy. Pair this saucy chicken with mashed potatoes for a cozy meal!

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, lightly pounded (about 2 lbs)
  • Creole Cajun Seasoning– homemade or store-bought, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 shallot, finely diced
  • 10 cloves of garlic
  • 1 cup chicken stock or broth
  • 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes- optional
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, smooth or whole grain
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped fresh tarragon, plus more for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
  • ⅓ cup fresh-grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the chicken with Creole Cajun seasoning, to taste. Use your hands (fitted with disposable gloves, if desired) to massage the seasoning into the chicken to fully coat. Set the chicken aside.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, place the chicken into the skillet and sauté the chicken for 4-6 minutes on each side until a nice golden sear appears- depending on the size of your chicken breasts you might need to cook in batches. Then set the chicken aside on a clean plate. The chicken may not be fully cooked through at this stage, they’ll finish cooking later.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and add the butter into the pan. Once melted through, add the shallot and garlic cloves, and sauté until the shallot is translucent and the garlic cloves are golden and lightly caramelized, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Add the stock/broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, red pepper flakes (if using), and dijon mustard, then use a wooden utensil to stir the mixture, scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Let the mixture come up to a simmer for about 2-3 minutes until slightly reduced.
  5. Then stir in the cream and add the fresh tarragon and parsley, stirring well to fully combine. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once achieved, reduce the heat back to medium-low.
  6. Sprinkle in the parmesan and stir into the pan sauce. Return the chicken breasts to the pan along with any residual juices that have been collected. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken and let simmer until the chicken is warmed and cooked through, and the chicken has reached 165°F when checked with an internal thermometer, about 5-7 minutes or so.
  7. Taste the pan sauce and adjust with more Creole Cajun seasoning, to preference if you’d like. Remove from heat. Garnish the dish with more tarragon, if desired. Serve this creamy garlic herb chicken immediately alongside your favorite side items (we love this one paired with mashed potatoes and green beans). Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Need a heavy cream sub?: I recommend coconut cream!
  2. Please read the blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.
pan-seared chicken breasts in skillet with creamy garlic herb sauce