🧄 Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Broccoli

This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Broccoli is a rich, comforting dinner that brings together tender golden chicken, fresh broccoli, and a silky Parmesan cream sauce. It’s an easy family meal with plenty of garlic flavor and a deliciously creamy texture.

Everything comes together in one skillet, making this recipe perfect for busy evenings when you want a homemade dinner without a pile of dishes. Serve it over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or enjoy it on its own with warm crusty bread.

🥣 Ingredients

For the Chicken

1 ½ lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Broccoli

4 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter

For the Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
5 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

For Garnishing

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Extra Parmesan cheese
Freshly cracked black pepper

👨‍🍳 Directions

1. Prepare the chicken

Pat the chicken breasts dry and cut them into evenly sized pieces. Season them with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, and garlic powder.

Toss the chicken well so every piece is evenly coated.

2. Brown the chicken

Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the seasoned chicken in a single layer. Cook for approximately 4–5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and nearly cooked through.

Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.

3. Cook the broccoli

Add the broccoli florets and 2 tablespoons of water to the same skillet.

Cover and steam for approximately 3–4 minutes, until the broccoli becomes bright green and tender-crisp.

Remove the broccoli from the skillet and set aside with the chicken.

4. Start the garlic sauce

Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter.

Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds, stirring constantly. The garlic should become fragrant without turning dark.

Pour in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen the flavorful browned bits.

5. Make the creamy sauce

Add the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Gradually add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese while stirring until it melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth.

6. Add the lemon

Stir in the lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.

The small amount of lemon adds brightness and balances the richness of the cream and Parmesan without overpowering the garlic flavor.

7. Return the chicken and broccoli

Place the cooked chicken and broccoli back into the skillet.

Gently stir everything together so the chicken and vegetables become coated in the creamy Parmesan sauce.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for another 3–5 minutes, allowing the flavors to come together.

8. Finish and serve

Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle fresh parsley and extra Parmesan over the top.

Serve immediately while the sauce is warm and creamy.

This dish pairs beautifully with steamed rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or toasted garlic bread.

⏱️ Prep Time

15 minutes

🍳 Cook Time

30 minutes

⏰ Total Time

45 minutes

🍴 Servings

6 servings

🔥 Calories

Approximately 470 calories per serving

Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.