Description
Creamy Ranch Chicken is a flavorful and comforting skillet dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich, creamy ranch sauce made with heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and ranch seasoning. Ready in just 35 minutes, this gluten-free main course pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables for an easy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat to prepare for searing the chicken.
- Sear the chicken breasts: Lightly season the chicken breasts with 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place them in the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until golden brown and nicely seared. Then, remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Reduce the heat to medium low, add the minced garlic (2 cloves), and cook for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant without browning.
- Prepare the creamy ranch sauce: Stir in the ranch seasoning packet, 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Whisk the ingredients together until the sauce is smooth and combined.
- Simmer the chicken in sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet and spoon the creamy ranch sauce over them. Cover the skillet, and let it simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley over the finished dish for a fresh touch before serving.
Notes
- This dish pairs well with mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- You can substitute half and half for heavy cream to create a lighter sauce, though it will be slightly thinner.
