Creamy Garlic Chicken Skillet

This Creamy Garlic Chicken Skillet is the ultimate weeknight comfort food! Made with tender chicken thighs, juicy cherry tomatoes, hearty spinach, and loads of salty parmesan, this simple recipe is straight up irresistible! 

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On any given weeknight a simple chicken recipe is my go-to choice. Feeding my family can be hard! Everyone’s got different preferences and tastes and I don’t have the time to cater to them all. I know all you busy moms out there feel me on that one. 

So, when in doubt I bust out a pack of chicken thighs or breasts from the freezer and whip a quick bake or casserole like this one! 

This Creamy Garlic Chicken Skillet is a quick and easy recipe made with less than 10 ingredients. Active cooking time is short and doesn’t require much effort on your part. Recipes like these make serving my family a wholesome, nutritious meal that much more accessible and delicious! 

Ingredients 

I pride myself on being able to turn out something tasty from simple, pantry-staple ingredients. It’s a skill I’ve practiced over the years so that I can share easy to make recipes with y’all! 

Oven-baked garlic chicken thighs don’t require any fuss. Just follow my lead and you’ll be eating dinner in no time! 

Here’s what you need: 

• CHICKEN THIGHS 
• YELLOW ONION
• CHERRY TOMATOES 
• GARLIC 

Wanna know what makes this recipe extra special? I’ll tell ya! Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup. Made with a smooth, rich combination of high-quality chicken stock, cream, and tender chicken, this pantry staple soup adds an almost indescribable flavor to this recipe. 

Adding cream of chicken to the creamy garlic sauce is a great way to introduce an extra creamy, almost umami-like taste to this dish! 

How to Pan Sear Chicken Thighs

When using any cut of chicken that still has its skin, it’s best to first sear it at high heat to form a crisp, browned exterior. Not only does this method add more flavor but it also helps to retain moisture. 

To properly sear chicken thighs, you’ll need to first pat them dry and generously season them with salt and pepper. While you do so, preheat the skillet to a medium-high heat along with the oil. Sear the thighs skin-side down first for about 5 minutes, or until the skin is tight, shiny, and golden-brown around the edges. Flip and repeat on the second side. 

Can I use Chicken Breasts?

Yes! I’m all about using whatever you’ve got on hand! This Garlic Chicken Skillet can be made with both chicken thighs and chicken breasts. Note that breasts (dependent on size) will take a longer time to cook all the way through. You can check for doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature will reach 165 F. 

How To Make Baked Garlic Chicken Skillet 

• COOK THE BACON. First things first y’all, we need some smoky-salty, crispy bacon. Stay close and flip the bacon once to cook both sides evenly. Don’t discard the fat from the pan! 
• SEAR THE CHICKEN. We’ll be using the bacon fat to sear both sides of the chicken. Brown both sides evenly, it’ll take about 10-15 minutes total. If the fat begins to smoke, or the chicken is browning too quickly, lower the heat a bit or remove the pan from heat for a moment. 

• MAKE THE CREAMY GARLIC BASE. To the now very flavor infused pan add your diced onions and tomatoes. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are tender and translucent and the tomatoes are slightly blistered. Then stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Finally dump the rest of ingredients in the pan and stir! Once done, the spinach should be wilted and the cheese melted. 

• ADD THE CHICKEN AND BACON BACK. Carefully place all the meat back in the pan and spoon some sauce over the top. 
• BAKE, COOL, AND SERVE. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. Let the dish cool for about 5 minutes, then serve! 

What To Serve with It

You can serve up this garlic baked chicken recipe just about any which way you’d like! I prefer to serve mine over a bed of pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables. Even a simple side salad would make for a delicious, refreshing pairing! 

What To Do With Leftover Chicken Thighs 

If you’ve cooked more chicken than you need, or just want to store leftovers for later, here’s how you do it. Wait until the chicken has cooled to almost room temperature and then transfer it into an airtight container. Store the container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 

Note: Be sure to store the chicken away within 2 hours of cooking. Meat is highly perishable and should not sit at room temperature.

How To Reheat

Reheating creamy garlic chicken is pretty simple. Honestly, most of the time I just zap it in the microwave until nice and hot. This method will alter the texture of the chicken a bit though. 

Alternatively, you can preheat the oven to 350 and place the chicken in an oven-safe dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. 

Grandbaby Cakes Easiest Chicken Recipes! 

• Lemon Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Blackened Chicken Enchiladas
• Curry Chicken
• Southern Baked Chicken