Description
This Creamy Ranch Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make skillet dish featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked in a rich ranch-seasoned cream sauce with Parmesan and garlic. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare and Season Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Evenly season the chicken breasts with the ranch seasoning mix and black pepper to ensure balanced flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the skillet. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Make Cream Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the skillet’s browned bits to deglaze and add flavor. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until it thickens gently.
- Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over them, and simmer for an additional 3 to 5 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley if desired to add a fresh herbal touch before serving.
Notes
- Serve the creamy ranch chicken over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta for a hearty, complete meal.
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a lighter sauce variation.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- For extra flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the sauce before serving.
