Description
This creamy garlic chicken and broccoli dish is a flavorful and comforting meal that is perfect for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into medium-sized pieces
- 4–6 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 2 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of dried Italian herbs (optional)
- Squeeze of fresh lemon juice (optional)
- Base for bowls: cooked white rice, brown rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Cut your boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) into approximate 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Trim your fresh broccoli and cut it into small florets. Finely mince your fresh garlic cloves.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 4-6 minutes, flipping occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
- Sauté the Broccoli: Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the broccoli florets and sauté for about 3-5 minutes until bright green and slightly tender-crisp. Remove the broccoli from the pan and add it to the plate with the cooked chicken.
- Build the Creamy Garlic Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Make it Creamy: Add the softened cream cheese to the simmering broth. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese has fully melted and the sauce is smooth. Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for another 2-3 minutes until it starts to thicken slightly.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully incorporated. Taste the sauce and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked chicken and broccoli to the skillet with the creamy garlic sauce. Toss everything gently to ensure the chicken and broccoli are thoroughly coated. Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the top before serving. Serve immediately over your choice of base.
Notes
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the dish for added nutrition.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated for easy meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 150mg