Description
Chicken Scampi with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Rice is a delicious and comforting one-pan meal featuring tender seared chicken breasts cooked alongside flavorful garlic, rich Parmesan cheese, and creamy rice. The dish combines the brightness of lemon juice with fresh parsley for a perfectly balanced, hearty dinner that’s simple to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garlic Parmesan Rice
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season chicken breasts evenly with salt and black pepper on both sides to enhance flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Once cooked, remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: Lower the heat to medium, add butter to the skillet, and sauté the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Prepare Rice: Add the rice to the skillet and stir well to coat the grains in the garlic butter mixture, which will infuse the rice with flavor.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine the mixture evenly with the rice.
- Simmer Rice: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then cover the skillet and cook over low heat for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Finish Rice: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and lemon juice into the cooked rice for a creamy, tangy taste.
- Reheat Chicken: Nestle the seared chicken breasts into the rice, cover the skillet again, and heat for an additional 5 minutes to warm the chicken through and meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top of the dish and serve hot for a hearty, satisfying meal.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh garlic for maximum aroma and flavor.
- If you prefer, you can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter dish, though the texture will be less creamy.
- Long-grain white rice works best to achieve a fluffy texture; avoid instant rice as it may become mushy during cooking.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to taste after cooking, as Parmesan adds some saltiness.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Chicken Scampi, Garlic Parmesan Rice, One-Pan Meal, Creamy Rice, Skillet Dinner, Easy Chicken Recipe
