As the days grow longer and a hint of warmth returns to the air, our appetites often crave something fresh yet comforting.
This creamy chicken skillet, brimming with tender chicken and bright green peas, is the perfect answer. It’s a dish that feels special enough for a weeknight treat but comes together in a flash, making it ideal for busy families.
Inspired by those beloved restaurant-style chicken dishes, this recipe brings that same satisfying flavor profile right into your kitchen. Think of the zesty, savory notes of a classic chicken piccata, but simplified and streamlined for everyday cooking. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Creamy Chicken Skillet with Peas
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This creamy chicken skillet with tender chicken and bright green peas is a quick and comforting weeknight meal. Inspired by restaurant-style dishes, it offers a zesty, savory flavor profile similar to chicken piccata, but simplified for everyday cooking. It’s a versatile dish that comes together in about 30 minutes, perfect for busy families or anyone looking for a delicious and relatively light chicken dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with salt, pepper, and flour until evenly coated. The flour should create a thin, even layer, not a thick paste.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the floured chicken in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. The chicken should have a nice crust. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
4. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. This “deglazing” adds a lot of flavor. Bring the broth to a simmer, then stir in the heavy cream and lemon juice. Let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
5. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the frozen peas and stir everything together. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the peas are heated through and the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
6. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: creamy chicken, chicken skillet, weeknight dinner, easy chicken, chicken and peas, quick meal, comfort food, family friendly, lemon chicken, one pan
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a true weeknight hero, designed for anyone who wants a delicious, homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s perfect for busy parents, new cooks, or anyone looking to add a flavorful and relatively light chicken dish to their rotation. The beauty of this skillet meal lies in its simplicity and speed; you can have a restaurant-quality dinner on the table in about 30 minutes. It’s an excellent choice for a fresh spring evening, a quick family dinner, or even a casual gathering with friends. The creamy, bright sauce coats the tender chicken beautifully, making each bite a delightful experience that feels both indulgent and fresh.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Here’s a straightforward list of what you’ll need to gather from your pantry and refrigerator to bring this creamy chicken skillet to life. Each ingredient plays a key role in building the dish’s signature flavor and texture.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
For the chicken, you can easily substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer a slightly richer flavor and more forgiving cook time. Just be sure to cut them into similar 1-inch pieces. If you don’t have fresh lemon juice, a good quality bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch, though fresh is always recommended for the brightest flavor. Feel free to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand, or if you’re looking to keep the dish vegetarian-friendly (though you’d need to swap the chicken for a plant-based protein).
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is truly designed for speed and efficiency, making it perfect for those evenings when time is of the essence.
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Follow these simple steps to create a delicious and satisfying creamy chicken skillet. Pay attention to the visual cues to ensure perfect results every time.
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with salt, pepper, and flour until evenly coated. The flour should create a thin, even layer, not a thick paste.
- Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the floured chicken in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. The chicken should have a nice crust. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Build the sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. This “deglazing” adds a lot of flavor. Bring the broth to a simmer, then stir in the heavy cream and lemon juice. Let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine and finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the frozen peas and stir everything together. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the peas are heated through and the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. The sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
- Serve immediately: Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy chicken skillet is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can serve the chicken and sauce over plain pasta or rice, and perhaps offer the peas on the side if your little ones are particular about mixed dishes. A sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese over the top can also make it more appealing to younger palates.
To change up the flavor profile, consider adding a pinch of dried Italian herbs along with the garlic and onion, or a dash of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. You could also stir in some sautéed mushrooms or spinach with the peas for added vegetables. For a more substantial meal, serve this creamy chicken alongside fluffy rice, creamy mashed potatoes, or a simple side of crusty bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette would also complement the richness of the dish beautifully, adding a refreshing contrast.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Here are a few to watch out for to ensure your creamy chicken skillet turns out perfectly every time. One frequent mistake is overcrowding the pan when searing the chicken. This lowers the pan’s temperature, causing the chicken to steam instead of sear, resulting in pale, rubbery pieces rather than golden-brown and tender. Always cook the chicken in batches if your skillet isn’t large enough to hold it in a single layer.
Another common error is overcooking the chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts cook quickly, especially when cut into smaller pieces. Cook just until golden brown and cooked through, usually 3-4 minutes per side. Overcooked chicken will be dry and tough. Similarly, over-reducing the sauce can make it too thick and heavy. Keep an eye on the sauce as it simmers and remove it from the heat once it reaches your desired consistency. Finally, not scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan after searing the chicken and sautéing the aromatics means you’re leaving a lot of flavor behind. These “fond” bits are packed with deliciousness and are crucial for a rich sauce.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy chicken skillet is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored and reheated successfully with a few considerations. Allow any leftover chicken and sauce to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating, gently warm the dish on the stovetop over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. You may find that the sauce has thickened considerably in the refrigerator, or that it has separated slightly. To remedy this, add a splash of chicken broth or a little extra heavy cream while reheating to bring it back to a creamy consistency. Avoid reheating in the microwave at full power for too long, as this can cause the sauce to break and the chicken to become rubbery. For best results, use a lower power setting and stir frequently. This dish isn’t ideal for making completely ahead of time, as the sauce can change texture and the peas can become mushy. However, you can prep the chicken (cut and flour it) and chop the onion and garlic a day in advance to save time on the cooking day.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use milk instead of heavy cream? While you can, heavy cream provides the richest, most stable sauce. Milk, especially lower-fat varieties, is more prone to separating or curdling when heated, especially with lemon juice. If you do use milk, opt for whole milk and add it slowly over lower heat.
What if I don’t have fresh lemon juice? Bottled lemon juice can be used as a substitute, but fresh lemon juice offers a brighter, more vibrant flavor that really elevates the dish.
Can I add other vegetables? Absolutely! Sliced mushrooms, spinach, or even chopped asparagus would be excellent additions. Add heartier vegetables like mushrooms with the onion, and more delicate ones like spinach or asparagus with the peas.
Is this dish spicy? No, this recipe is not spicy. It features savory, creamy, and zesty flavors. If you prefer a little heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic.
How do I prevent the chicken from drying out? The key is not to overcook the chicken. Sear
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
