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Cream Cheese Chicken: An Easy, Creamy, and Delicious Weeknight Dinner


  • Author: Jessica

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 22.5 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

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. 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

  1. Pat Dry: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps the seasonings adhere better.
  2. 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

  1. Heat Oil: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it shimmers.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Add Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and incorporated into the sauce.
  3. Season: Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. 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

  1. Place Chicken in Dish: Arrange the seared chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
  2. Pour Sauce: Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
  3. 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

  1. Garnish: Remove the baking dish from the oven and garnish the Cream Cheese Chicken with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.
  2. Serve Hot: Serve the chicken hot, spooning the creamy sauce over each piece.