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Perfect Juicy Baked Chicken Breast with Creamy Parmesan Sauce

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This juicy baked chicken breast is cooked directly in a creamy Parmesan garlic sauce, resulting in incredibly tender meat and a rich, flavorful sauce. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s impressive enough for company.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6–7 ounces each, or 170–200g)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup heavy cream (240ml)
  • ½ cup chicken broth (120ml)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (100g)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If uneven in thickness, pound to about 1-inch thickness. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Sprinkle seasoning evenly over both sides of each chicken breast. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  2. Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. When the oil shimmers, place chicken breasts in the skillet. Cook undisturbed for 3–4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes. Transfer seared chicken to a plate and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Let it melt, scraping up browned bits. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Slowly pour in chicken broth, stirring constantly. Let simmer for about a minute, then reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Add dried thyme and red pepper flakes (if using). Let simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Turn off heat. Return seared chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Spoon some sauce over the tops. Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese evenly over everything.
  5. Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake for 18–22 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C) at the thickest part.
  6. Remove skillet from oven and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest for 5–7 minutes. Sprinkle fresh parsley over the top just before serving. Serve with extra sauce spooned over each piece.

Notes

Bring chicken and cream to room temperature before starting. Don’t skip the sear for best flavor. Grate your own Parmesan cheese for a smooth sauce. Let the sauce simmer gently to prevent curdling. Check chicken at 15 minutes if your oven runs hot.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked chicken breast, creamy parmesan sauce, easy chicken dinner, weeknight dinner, juicy chicken

Find it online: https://fizzlefork.com/perfect-juicy-baked-chicken-breast-with-creamy-parmesan-sauce/