Description
Discover how to make incredibly easy and delicious Cream Cheese Chicken! This recipe features tender chicken breasts baked in a rich and flavorful cream cheese sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2–2.5 pounds)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish: Setting the Stage for Baking
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent the chicken from sticking and make cleanup easier.
2. Season the Chicken: Adding Flavor from the Start
- Pat Dry: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps the seasonings adhere better.
- Season: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
3. Sear the Chicken: Creating a Golden-Brown Crust
- Heat Oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Sear Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until they develop a golden-brown crust. This step adds flavor and helps to lock in the juices.
- Tip: Don’t overcrowd the skillet. Work in batches if necessary to ensure even browning.
- Set Aside: Remove the seared chicken breasts from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
4. Prepare the Cream Cheese Sauce: Rich, Creamy, and Flavorful
- Whisk Broth and Cream Cheese: In the same skillet (no need to clean it), whisk together the chicken broth and softened cream cheese until smooth. Make sure there are no lumps of cream cheese remaining.
- Tip: The residual heat from the skillet will help melt the cream cheese.
- Add Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it’s slightly thickened.
5. Assemble and Bake: Bringing it All Together
- Place Chicken in Dish: Arrange the seared chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
- Pour Sauce: Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Check for Doneness: The chicken is cooked through when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the juices run clear. The sauce should be bubbly around the edges.
6. Garnish and Serve: The Final Touches
- Garnish: Remove the baking dish from the oven and garnish the Cream Cheese Chicken with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
- Serve Hot: Serve the chicken hot, spooning the creamy sauce over each piece.