Creamy Smothered Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts
You’ve got to try this creamy garlic butter chicken breasts recipe. Simply smothered in a sauce that is incredibly flavorful, which also serves to keep the chicken juicy and tender. It requires only a few ingredients and is perfect for the holidays and family dinners.
Creamy Smothered Chicken Breasts in Garlic Butter Sauce
This easy, creamy, smothered garlic butter chicken breasts recipe is literally the best way to make chicken breasts. You will end up with the tasting chicken breasts smothered in creamy garlic butter sauce. The best thing is that this recipe requires only a few ingredients! If I haven’t said it yet, we love chicken breasts here – Marry Me chicken, chicken breast fritters, chicken breast fajitas, the list goes on and on. LOL🤣
Looking for a new way to do chicken tonight? This is one of my best chicken breast recipes, one that I love making for the holidays. You can even make it ahead if you want to enjoy it after a long workday. When I made it for Christmas 2022, I actually made it on December 24, stored it in the foil baking pan, and literally warmed it up in the oven at 250F shortly before our December 25th dinner. It is the perfect holiday recipe to make ahead and everyone loves it!
Christmas is one of my favorite times to make this recipe, though we love it any time. It’s so creamy, luscious, tasty, and smothered in a garlic butter sauce that you won’t be able to stop spooning it up into your mouth. Make sure to check my foolproof smothered turkey legs too!
Why Should You Panfry or Brown Your Chicken When Making This Recipe?
Sure, you could just throw it all into your pot, but if you don’t brown the chicken first, you’re not going to get all those good flavors in the pan that are used to make the garlic butter sauce. The payoff is worth it with this one, I promise! Browning the chicken helps to intensify the flavors, trust me.😋
Why Is It Called Smothered Chicken?
Simple…it is literally smothered in a sauce that is incredibly flavorful, which also serves to keep the chicken juicy and tender. You’ve got to try it!
Why You Will Love Smothered Chicken Breasts in Garlic Butter Sauce
- The chicken comes out soft, tender, and juicy.
- The sauce is simply spectacular and perfect to top on rice or mashed potatoes.
- You can plan ahead and make it ahead for busy nights or holidays to simplify your life.
- If you have any leftovers, you will have the best lunch the next day.
- It’s a wholesome dish that everyone absolutely loves!
- It is so rich, and your guests would devour it! BTW, make sure are subscribed to my YouTube Channel for recipe videos.
- Fresh garlic gives this sauce an unimaginably fresh, garlicky taste!
- Smothered creamy garlic butter chicken breasts are the perfect holiday main.
Here’s How to Make This Recipe:
NOTE that I made this one without sun-dried tomatoes!
Ingredients for Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts
- Chicken breasts
- Half and half
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Butter
- Water or broth (I always use water)
- Olive oil
- Flour
- Sun-dried tomatoes (in oil; optional)
- Knorr
- Dry thyme
- Jalapeño or green chili pepper (optional but recommended)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh Basil leaves for garnishing
How to Make Smothered Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts (Step-by-Step):
Trust me, you need this recipe for my smothered garlic butter chicken breasts in your recipe book. Here’s how to make it!
- Prep
Peel, mince, grate, or chop garlic, and set aside. If you wash your chicken breasts, do so now during the prep step and be sure to pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season and Marinate Chicken Breasts
Place the chicken breast in a big bowl, add salt, a dash of black pepper, Knorr powder seasoning, and dry thyme. The amount of ingredients will depend on the amount of chicken breasts you are cooking (see the recipe card for the exact amount I used for the quantity I cooked). Use your hands to combine this with the chicken, then cover and let marinate for at least one hour.
- Brown/Cook the Chicken
Place a big pan or pot on the stove, allow it to warm up, and add olive oil. Let it warm, and gently place the chicken breasts in it. Cook 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until the sides are slightly golden. Flip and cook the other side, making sure each piece is browned, then set aside.
- Make the Sauce
In the same pot you used to cook the chicken, add butter to the remaining oil to make the sauce. Full instructions on the recipe card.
- Finish Cooking Chicken in Sauce
Put the chicken back in, ensuring to immerse each piece in the sauce. Cover and simmer until chicken breast is tender and done. Check in between, taste and adjust flavors, and add more water if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Garnish with whole or chopped basil leaves and serve warm for an unforgettable holiday meal or dinner with sides of choices, including coconut rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes.
Garlic Butter Chicken Breast Recipe Notes
- Make sure you take the time to let the chicken marinate covered in foil for at least an hour.
- When browning the chicken, make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan and do it in batches if need be. Also, you’re not cooking it fully in that step. It will finish cooking in the sauce.
- Patience is key here, as your chicken needs to cook in the sauce on low. Otherwise, it could stick to the bottom pot, and you may not like the outcome!
- Add salt gradually to your taste.
- No sun-dried tomatoes? No problems, this would still taste perfect!!!
- Use fresh garlic. It makes a whole lot of difference.
- You can use half heavy and half milk.
- Add more water or chicken broth if you want a lighter sauce. In other words, make it as thick or thin as you wish.
Serving Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts
Serve warm with baked whole potatoes, mashed potatoes, coconut basmati rice, or whatever you want. Here are some of my sides you can use:
- Coconut Basmati White Rice
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
- Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
- Bacon-Wrapped Small Potatoes
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Brown Butter Polenta
How to Store Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts Leftovers
The best way to store my smothered garlic butter chicken breasts, if you have any remaining (which is rare in our house!), is to put it in an airtight container in your fridge. It will keep for up to 4 days, and when you reheat it, make sure you do it slowly on low for the best results. Additionally, you can store it in the freezer for upward of 90 days or 3 months. If frozen make sure you completely defrost before reheating.
Variations and Substitutions
- You can easily make this gluten-free by swapping out the flour with your gluten-free flour. Some Knorr seasonings are gluten-free but some are not, so be sure you check the labels before adding.
- No half and half? You can use heavy cream or even milk.
- If you’re not into spice, leave out the chili/jalapeno.
- You can also use any other part of chicken meat or turkey breasts.
Smothered Chicken FAQs
My smothered chicken uses butter, flour, half and half, and a variety of seasonings to render a tender, juicy, and utterly delicious flavor that takes chicken breasts to extraordinary heights.
The key is to brown them without fully cooking, then cooking them over low heat for a longer duration. This keeps the chicken from drying out and infuses it with flavor.
Do you need more chicken breast recipes? You’ll find plenty on my site, but trust me when I say start with this one if you want the best juicy, flavorful chicken breasts and a sauce that is out of this world.
Just follow the steps listed here and you will be amazed at the soft, tender texture of this chicken!
Recipe Card
PrintCreamy Smothered Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 45
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This easy, creamy, smothered garlic butter chicken breasts recipe is literally the best way to make chicken breasts. You will end up with the best-tasting chicken breasts smothered in creamy garlic butter sauce. It’s so creamy, luscious, and tasty. The best thing is that this recipe requires only a few ingredients, including skinless, boneless chicken breasts, garlic, butter, chicken broth, salt, pepper, etc. You will first brown the breasts, then make the garlic butter sauce and finish cooking the breasts. This chicken breast recipe is perfect for the holidays and family dinners.
Ingredients
- 7 – 8 chicken breasts
- 1½ cups of half and half
- ½ – 1 cup of water or broth (I typically use water)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon Salt + more for sauce
- 1 teaspoon of Knorr + more for sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (add to your taste)
- ½ dry thyme
- ½ teaspoon onion and garlic powder; optional
- 1 Jalapeño or green chili pepper
- A handful or about 1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes (in oil); optional
- Fresh Basil leaves for garnishing.
Instructions
- Prep. Peel, mince, grate, or chop garlic, and set aside. If you wash your chicken breasts, do so now during the prep step, and be sure to pat them dry with paper towels.
- Season and Marinate Chicken Breasts. Place the chicken breast in a big bowl, add 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon Knorr powder seasoning, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ dry thyme. The amount of ingredients will depend on the quantity of chicken breasts you are cooking. Use your hands to combine this with the chicken, then cover and let marinate for at least one hour.
- Brown/Cook the Chicken. Place a big pan or pot on the stove, allow it to warm up, and add olive oil. Let it warm, and gently place the chicken breasts in it. Cook 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until the sides are slightly golden. Flip and cook the other side, making sure each piece is browned, then set aside.
- Make the Sauce. In the same pot you used to cook the chicken, add butter to the remaining oil. Next, add flour and cook until no longer raw (about 2 minutes). Add minced garlic, and keep stirring to cook the garlic and keep the flour from sticking to the bottom (about 1 minute or so). Gently stir in the half and half and make sure that your heat is on low. Add the chicken broth or water (start with half a cup), then season the sauce with a dash of salt, Knorr, pepper flakes or chili pepper (for a kick of heat, but optional). Taste and adjust flavors if needed. Throw in jalapeño, or green chili, and sun-dried tomatoes (totally optional). Bring to a simmer for the next step.
- Finish Cooking Chicken in Sauce. Put the chicken back in the pot, ensuring to immerse each piece in the sauce. Cover and simmer until chicken breast is tender and done. Check in between, taste and adjust flavors, and add more water if the sauce becomes too thick. Remember you perfectly in control of your cooking and this can be as thick or thin as you desire! Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes for super creamy, tender, smothered chicken in the most luxurious sauce.
- Serve and Enjoy! Garnish with whole or chopped basil leaves and serve warm for an unforgettable holiday meal or dinner with sides of choices, including polenta, coconut rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes.
Notes
If your chicken breast are too big, slice them in the middle
Make sure you take the time to let the chicken marinate covered in foil for at least an hour.
When browning the chicken, make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan and do it in batches if need be. Also, you’re not cooking it fully in that step. It will finish cooking in the sauce.
Patience is key here, as your chicken needs to cook in the sauce on low. Otherwise, it could stick to the bottom pot, and you may not like the outcome!
Add salt gradually to your taste. If you, unfortunately, add too much, you can’t take it away; if you add gradually, you can always adjust/add more if needed.
Use fresh garlic. It makes a whole lot of difference.
You can use half heavy cream and half whole milk.
Add more water or chicken broth if you want a lighter sauce. In other words, make it as thick or thin as you wish.
More Chicken Breast Recipes:
Marry Me Chicken
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Creamy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Ready to make the most luscious and incredibly tasty restaurant-style fettuccine Alfredo at home?
Chicken Breast Fajitas for a Win!
Chicken fajitas in an air fryer may be the best possible way to cook this tex-mex meat and vegetable dish. It is juicy, tender, tasty, and cooks in no time.
Chicken Fresh Corn Salad
Say hello to the best-ever healthy chicken salad with fresh corn, cucumbers, bell Peppers, apples, red onions, and a creamy lime dressing!
Chicken Breast Fritters
Tired of the same old chicken recipes? Here’s one that my kids absolutely love and adore – tender chicken breast fritters!
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Stay well, safe and keep living your life to the fullest!
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