Creamy Parmesan Garlic Herb Chicken

A thick, lightened-up, and LOW-CARB creamy parmesan garlic mushroom chicken recipe is your new favorite dinner! With NO heavy cream (or ANY cream at ALL option!). Everything in JUST ONE POT.

Crispy-skinned chicken simmered in a beautifully thick and creamy sauce, using NO cream for this chicken with creamy mushroom sauce, just a mixture of herbs, a good kick of garlic, and parmesan; simple ingredients for maximum taste. This creamy herb mushroom chicken packs so many flavors in the one pan.

Mushroom Chicken

This is the first recipe that we shared with you all back in 2017. A low-fat alternative without depriving us of any flavors.

This mushroom chicken was SO GOOD, we had to make it a second time right after everyone had eaten, because they ALL wanted MORE. We've made it at least once a week since we first introduced our family to all of these flavors (back in October 2016). It seems totally unfair that we've been holding onto this for so long without sharing it. Truth be told, we didn't think the photos were good enough to share. Well, we must've had rocks in our head.

So, we put our hands on it, and here we are. It's so easy to make, preps in 10 minutes, and cooks in just ONE PAN. We have retested it and found the original recipe posted works fine, as it has for many other readers. However, we have modified the recipe since posting for an even better outcome for future readers, especially when it comes to the creamy sauce! ENJOY!

Substitutions & Variations

• Chicken: To substitute chicken breasts for thighs, there is no need to continue to bake them in the oven. After adding the breasts back into the pan, continue simmering in the sauce until completely cooked through.
• Herbs: If you don't have oregano and dried basil leaves, use 2 teaspoons of Italian herbs.
• Dairy-Free & Cream Options: To make this chicken mushroom recipe dairy-free, substitute the evaporated milk with almond, coconut, or rice milk. Alternatively, replace the evaporated milk with half and half, heavy cream, thickened cream, or a reduced-fat cooking cream. If using any of the heavier creams suggested do not add the cornstarch mixture. You won't need it to get a thick creamy sauce.
• Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free option, make sure to find a certified gluten-free cornstarch where available.

On the stove

As with most of our chicken recipes, you start this one off by searing the meat in a large skillet. Make sure to keep the chicken in a single layer in the hot pan to get the skin nice and crisp. Letting it develop a deep crust builds an good base of flavor for the whole dish.

Once seared, pull the chicken out and use those pan drippings to sauté minced garlic cloves and mushrooms until tender. Be sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Next, whisk in your liquids, herbs, and parmesan, letting the mixture bubble gently until it thickens into a creamy sauce.

Finally, nestle the chicken back into the skillet and transfer the whole thing into the oven. Finish baking until the chicken is completely cooked through and tender. When we need easy weeknight dinner ideas, chicken cooked entirely in one pan is always our top choice.

Always taste your sauce before adding the chicken back in, and finish it off with a good pinch of freshly cracked black pepper.

Recipe Tips

• Prep the chicken: If you decide to swap the thighs for chicken cutlets, place them on your cutting board and pound them to an even thickness, or slice them into thinner cutlets. This ensures they cook evenly in the pan and stay juicy.
• Get a good sear: Don't overcrowd your skillet. Sear the chicken in batches if you need to. We always use a mix of extra-virgin olive oil and unsalted butter to get a reliable crust on the chicken.

One of our best secrets for a restaurant-quality sauce is to deglaze the pan with a splash of dry white wine (like a crisp chardonnay) before adding the chicken broth. The alcohol cooks out completely, but leaves behind an good base.

Serve it with

We like to keep it low carb, so we keep the sides simple, like a tomato salad. For something more filling, plain pasta or mashed potatoes are a YES to soak up all the good sauce.

Other Recipes

Sometimes, when the weather cools down, we get completely torn between making a batch of beef and pumpkin shepherd's pie or something much faster. This skillet wins every time we only have 20 minutes to get dinner on the table!

If you want some fresh greens on the side, we highly recommend whipping up the dressing and veggies from our chicken cucumber avocado salad (just leave the extra chicken out). Oh, and if you are lucky enough to have leftover mushroom sauce, it is actually good over a spinach and ricotta grilled cheese for lunch the next day.

Recipe FAQ's

Basil, oregano, and parsley are classic choices. Fresh herbs bring brightness, but dried herbs also work beautifully in this Garlic Herb Chicken recipe.

You can cook it a day in advance and reheat gently on the stove. The sauce may thicken, so just add a splash of milk or broth to loosen it.

Definitely. The creamy garlic sauce is mild and flavorful without being spicy, making it a hit for both kids and adults at the dinner table.

4.58 from 52 votes

Creamy Parmesan Herb Mushroom Chicken

What you need

• 6 chicken thighs skin on or off, bone in or out
• 3 tsp garlic powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 400 g mushrooms sliced
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 tsp fresh parsley chopped
• 1½ cups evaporated milk half and half or cream if using: see notes
• 1 tsp chicken bullion powder or stock powder
• 1 pinch salt to taste
• 1 pinch pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp cornstarch cornflour mixed with 2 tablespoons of extra 2% milk
• 3/4 cup parmesan cheese fresh grated, divided
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped, to serve
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups broccoli florets lightly steamed

Method

1. Season chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
2. Heat cooking oil spray in a large, non stick and oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Sear chicken thighs until golden and crispy on each side (about 3-4 minutes each side).
3. Transfer chicken to the oven and roast until completely cooked through (about 25-30 minutes). Once chicken is done, transfer to a warm plate and set aside.
4. Return skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and sauté the garlic in the pan juices until fragrant (about 1 minute). Add the mushrooms, herbs, the parsley and fry until mushrooms begin to soften.
5. Reduce heat to low-medium heat, add the milk (or cream) and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and being careful not to boil. Add in the bullion powder and season with salt and pepper to your taste.
6. Pour the milk/cornstarch mixture to the centre of the pan, and continue to simmer while quickly stirring the mixture through until the sauce thickens.
7. Add a little bit more of the half of the Parmesan cheese; allow sauce to simmer for a further minute until cheese melts through the sauce.
8. Add the chicken back into the pan and allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes in the cream to take on the flavours. Season to taste.
9. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of parsley and the rest of the Parmesan cheese.
10. Serve with steamed rice, over steamed vegetables or pasta.