I can’t get enough of this 30-minute creamy garlic chicken recipe, made with heavy creamy, white wine, fresh spinach, and lots of garlic! Tender, juicy chicken breasts are cooked to crispy perfection on the stovetop in a creamy garlic sauce that’s lip-smacking good. This is a restaurant quality meal that’s easy enough to make for weeknight dinners with the family!
![Chicken breasts in a garlic cream sauce.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/creamy-garlic-chicken-5-of-6-edited.jpg)
I’m all about quick meals, but I want them to taste more complicated than they are. This creamy skillet chicken recipe hits the mark: 30 minutes, simple ingredients, and incredible flavor. Trust me when I tell you, that garlic cream sauce is going to make every bite of chicken taste like heaven!
What’s in this Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe?
You only need 8 simple ingredients to make this creamy chicken and garlic. You likely already have most of them on hand!
- Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breast–4 small breasts or 2 larger ones that have been cut in half lengthwise.
- Flour: Use all-purpose flour to dredge the chicken before pan-frying–this makes it extra crispy.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter, or else the dish may come out too salty.
- Olive Oil: Use a neutral-flavor, high smoke point cooking oil to pan-sear. Olive oil works great!
- Garlic: Use a whole head of fresh garlic for this supremely garlicky chicken recipe! Peel cloves, no need to mince, though you can cut them in half to even-out the size.
- White Wine: Use a dry white wine for the cream sauce. Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio are good options.
- Heavy Cream: This gives the garlic sauce the most creamy consistency. I don’t recommend swapping it with anything else.
- Baby Spinach: Make sure you’re really packing in a full 2 cups of spinach. It will cook down a lot as it steams.
![up close image of creamy garlic chicken with spinach in skillet.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/creamy-garlic-chicken-1-of-6-edited.jpg)
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Variations to Try
I love the simplicity of this creamy garlic chicken recipe, but here are a few other ingredients you can toss into the skillet:
- A dollop of whole grain mustard will add some tanginess.
- Fresh or dried herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.
- A spoonful of pesto mixes in nicely with the cream sauce.
- Mushrooms make a great addition to this dish, and it’s an easy way to add more veggies.
- Sun-dried or cherry tomatoes add a pop of color and a burst of flavor.
How to Store and Reheat
Store creamy chicken and garlic sauce an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best results, reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed all the way through. I add a splash of heavy cream while reheating to make the sauce nice and creamy again.
I don’t recommend freezing this dish because cream sauces tend to break down and become grainy when reheated.
![garlic chicken on plate over spaghetti in cream sauce](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/creamy-garlic-chicken-2-of-6-edited.jpg)
Top Reader Reviews
- “I have made this three times now. It is the best. Easy and so good! Thank you. I didn’t change a thing!” – Christy
- “This recipe is a HUGE hit in my family!!! And I have very picky younger eaters. To my surprise the WHOLE family loved this and wanted it again this week!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful recipe” – Stephanie
![garlic chicken in skillet with cream sauce and spinach](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/creamy-garlic-chicken-6-of-6-200x200.jpg)
Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total Time
: 30 minutes
Instructions
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Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
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Place flour on a medium plate. Dredge each chicken breast with flour, patting off any excess.
¼ cup all-purpose flour
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Heat a large skillet with high sides to medium-high heat. Add one tablespoon butter and olive oil. Once the butter has melted, add the chicken breasts. Sear until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and sear until brown, another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the pan and set aside on a plate. (The chicken will not be fully cooked at this point–it will finish cooking in a later step.)
1½ tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil
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Add the remaining ½ tablespoon butter to the pan. Lower heat to medium, and add peeled garlic cloves. Toast the garlic until light brown on all sides. Be careful to not burn the garlic.
1 head garlic
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Add wine. Bring it up to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until reduced by half. Once the wine has reduced, pour in the cream. Again, bring the cream and wine up to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
½ cup dry white wine, 1 cup heavy cream
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Add the chicken back to the sauce, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through (it should reach an internal temperature of 160℉).
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Once the chicken is cooked, add in the spinach. Shut the lid and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Remove the lid and toss the spinach with the chicken and sauce until completely wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2 cups packed baby spinach
Notes
- If your garlic cloves are really big, cut them in half so they’re all roughly the same size.
- You can sub in boneless chicken thighs if you like.
Storage: Store creamy garlic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 607
Calories from Fat 324
% Daily Value*
Fat 36g55%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Trans Fat 0.2g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 11g
Cholesterol 230mg77%
Sodium 305mg13%
Potassium 1072mg31%
Carbohydrates 11g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 54g108%
Vitamin A 2484IU50%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 84mg8%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
How to Make Creamy Garlic Chicken Step by Step
Season the Chicken Breasts: Season 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
![Raw seasoned chicken breasts on a cutting board.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-1-1200x669.png)
Dredge Chicken: Place ¼ cup of all-purpose flour on a medium plate. Then coat each chicken breast in flour, patting off any excess.
![Dredging chicken in flour.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-2-1200x669.png)
Heat Butter: Heat a large skillet with high sides to medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
![Butter and oil in a pan.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-3-1200x669.png)
Sear the Chicken: Once the butter has melted, add the flour-coated chicken breasts. Sear until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Then flip and sear the other side until browned, another 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the pan and set aside on a plate.
![chicken breasts searing in a pan.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-4-1200x669.png)
Toast the Garlic: Add the remaining ½ tablespoon of unsalted butter to the pan. Lower heat to medium, and add 1 head of peeled garlic cloves. Toast the garlic until light brown on all sides (but be careful not to burn the garlic).
![garlic cloves toasting in a pan.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-5-1200x669.png)
Make Cream Sauce: Add ½ cup of a dry white wine. Bring the heat up to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer, and continue cooking until the liquid reduces by half. Once the wine is reduced, pour in 1 cup of heavy cream. Again, bring the mixture up to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer.
![garlic cloves cooking in wine.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-6-1200x669.png)
Combine Chicken and Sauce: Add the seared chicken back to the garlic cream sauce, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through.
![placing chicken breasts in a pan of garlic cream sauce.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-7-1200x669.png)
Add Spinach: Once the chicken is fully cooked through, add 2 cups of baby spinach on top. Cover the pan and simmer for another 1-2 minutes, then remove the lid and toss the spinach with the chicken and sauce until it’s completely wilted. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
![handful of fresh spinach on top of chicken.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-8-1200x669.png)
Serve: Serve this creamy garlic chicken over pasta, rice, or potatoes!
![creamy garlic chicken in a skillet.](https://easychickenrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/how-to-make-creamy-garlic-chicken-9-1200x669.png)
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