Description
This Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is a delicious and tangy one-pan meal featuring juicy chicken breasts simmered in a luscious creamy sauce made with pepperoncini peppers, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a flavorful and comforting dinner, this recipe is quick to prepare and pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta to soak up the savory sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- 2 tablespoons brine from pepperoncini jar
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare and Season Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to infuse the chicken with flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until they develop a golden brown crust and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate, covering to keep warm.
- Sauté Garlic: Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Deglaze the Skillet: Pour in the chicken broth, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate into the sauce for extra flavor.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Add the heavy cream, softened cream cheese, sliced pepperoncini peppers, and 2 tablespoons of the pepperoncini brine. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts completely into the sauce, enriching its flavor and creaminess.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the creamy sauce generously over the top. Allow everything to simmer together for 2 to 3 minutes so the flavors meld and the chicken stays moist.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the dish for a bright, fresh finish. Serve hot, ideally over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta to enjoy the full creamy sauce.
Notes
- Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta to soak up the creamy sauce.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream and reduce the Parmesan cheese to cut back on calories and fat.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini brine to control the tanginess and heat level of the sauce.
- Make sure to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to ensure a good sear and crispy exterior.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 880 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg
