Restaurant Style Creamy Garlic Chicken Skillet (Better Than Any Takeout Version)

This restaurant style creamy garlic chicken skillet delivers gourmet flavor in 30 minutes with whole caramelized garlic cloves, Dijon mustard, fresh Parmesan, and a lemon-balanced cream sauce that coats every piece of golden seared chicken. The technique of slow-cooking the garlic until sweet and nutty is what separates this from every basic version, and the optional upgrades of Dijon and Parmesan push it firmly into restaurant territory.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 30 minute creamy chicken recipe, caramelized garlic chicken, creamy chicken cutlets, creamy garlic chicken skillet, creamy garlic chicken with Dijon, easy gourmet chicken dinner, garlic chicken with heavy cream, garlic parmesan chicken skillet, one pan creamy chicken, restaurant style creamy garlic chicken

Servings: servings

Calories: 441kcal

Author: George - U Keep Cooking

Equipment

large cast enamel skillet

Ingredients

3 chicken breasts sliced into 6 thin cutlets
salt & freshly ground black pepper
½ cup flour (for dredge)
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter divided

Sauce Ingredients:

10 cloves garlic (peeled)
⅔ cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon lemon juice increased for balance
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)
¼ cup Parmesan (freshly grated)
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

Prep the chicken: Slice chicken breasts into thin, even cutlets. Season with salt and pepper, then lightly coat in flour. Shake off excess.
Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
Cook the garlic: Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter and whole garlic cloves. Cook 6–8 minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden.
Deglaze the pan: Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
Make the sauce: Stir in cream, garlic powder, and lemon juice. Add Dijon mustard or red pepper flakes if using. Simmer 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan now if using.
Finish the dish: Return chicken to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the top and simmer 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and coated in sauce.
Serve: Sprinkle with parsley. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.

Nutrition