Description
This Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring seared chicken breasts simmered in a zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce, served over rich and creamy garlic parmesan rice. Easy to prepare and perfect for a weeknight meal, this recipe combines tender chicken with bright citrus notes and the savory goodness of parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Scampi
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
For the Garlic Parmesan Rice
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry then season evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika to ensure flavorful, well-seasoned meat.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and sear for 5–6 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Reduce heat to low in the same skillet and add butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not burned.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the skillet’s bottom to loosen browned bits. Add lemon zest and simmer the sauce for 3–4 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the top and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to heat through and infuse flavor.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat, then add minced garlic and sauté briefly until aromatic.
- Toast the Rice: Add the white rice to the saucepan and stir continuously for about 1 minute to lightly toast and coat the rice with garlic butter.
- Cook the Rice: Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is cooked and liquid absorbed.
- Finish the Rice: Remove the rice from heat. Stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley to add creaminess and fresh flavor.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate the garlic parmesan rice and top with the chicken breasts. Spoon the lemon-garlic sauce over the chicken and garnish with extra parsley and optional red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
Notes
- For extra spice, increase red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and texture in the rice.
- If rice absorbs too quickly and isn’t tender, add a splash of broth and continue cooking until done.
- Chicken breasts can be substituted with chicken thighs for a juicier result.
- Do not overcrowd the skillet when searing the chicken to ensure a good crust develops.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: chicken scampi, garlic parmesan rice, lemon garlic chicken, easy chicken dinner, stovetop chicken recipe
