Description
This Easy Creamy Ranch Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich, creamy ranch sauce. With simple ingredients and a luscious sauce made from ranch seasoning, heavy cream, and chicken broth, this dish is both comforting and delicious, perfect served over rice or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional for extra creaminess)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by seasoning the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper on both sides to enhance flavor.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (no longer pink inside). Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: Lower the heat to medium. Add heavy cream, chicken broth, and ranch seasoning mix to the skillet. Stir well to combine and create a smooth sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: Allow the sauce to simmer for 3-5 minutes to thicken slightly. If desired, stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and the sauce is extra creamy.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon the creamy ranch sauce over the chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes to warm through and let flavors meld.
- Serve and Garnish: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives. Serve hot over rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs or drumsticks for a juicier texture; just adjust cooking time accordingly.
- If you want a lighter option, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- Add shredded cheddar cheese for extra creaminess and flavor, but it’s optional.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables to make a complete meal.
- Make sure to not burn the garlic while sautéing; it should be fragrant and lightly cooked.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce (approximately 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
Keywords: cream chicken, ranch chicken recipe, creamy chicken skillet, easy dinner, ranch seasoning chicken, weeknight meals, quick chicken recipe