Description
This Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken with Herb Rice is a delicious and comforting meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a zesty lemon garlic cream sauce, served alongside fragrant herb-infused rice. Perfect for a quick yet elegant weeknight dinner, this dish balances bright citrus flavors with rich creaminess and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Sauce
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Herb Rice
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season and Cook Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Sauté Garlic and Prepare Sauce: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, lemon juice and zest, and dried thyme. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet with the sauce. Allow everything to simmer together for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce slightly thickens and coats the chicken.
- Cook Herb Rice: In a separate saucepan, combine the long-grain rice, water or chicken broth, and butter. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed all the liquid. Stir in fresh parsley and fluff with a fork.
- Serve: Plate the chicken breasts and spoon the creamy lemon garlic sauce over them. Serve alongside the fluffy herb rice and garnish with additional fresh parsley for a bright finishing touch.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with water if preferred, but broth adds extra flavor to both the sauce and rice.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.
- Fresh herbs like thyme and parsley enhance the flavor, but dried herbs can be used if fresh are unavailable.
- Leftover rice can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated.
