Description

Creamy Ranch Chicken is a quick and comforting dinner featuring tender chicken simmered in a rich, velvety sauce infused with ranch seasoning. Ready in under 30 minutes, this hearty and flavorful dish combines sour cream, cream cheese, and chicken broth to create a luscious sauce perfect for busy weeknights. Serve it over rice, pasta, or vegetables for a versatile and family-friendly meal everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

Sauce

1 teaspoon garlic, minced (fresh)
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup sour cream
½ teaspoon onion powder

Garnish (optional)

Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Season chicken breasts or thighs lightly with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook each side for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
Build the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium in the same skillet and add more oil if needed. Stir in minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the pan to add flavor.
Add Creamy Ingredients: Lower the heat and whisk in ranch seasoning, cream cheese, sour cream, and onion powder. Stir continuously until the sauce is smooth, thickened, and heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as desired.
Combine and Simmer: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, coating each piece thoroughly with the creamy ranch sauce. Let everything simmer together for 3-5 minutes so the flavors meld perfectly.
Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish for color and freshness. Serve hot over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or with steamed vegetables.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan; cook chicken in batches if necessary to achieve a good sear.
Use full-fat cream cheese and sour cream for a richer, creamier sauce.
Simmer gently after adding dairy to prevent curdling or separating.
Fresh minced garlic is preferred over garlic powder for better aroma and flavor.
Allow enough time for the sauce to thicken to a luscious consistency before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 chicken breast with sauce)
Calories: 350
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 600 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 5 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 110 mg

Keywords: creamy ranch chicken, ranch chicken, quick chicken dinner, creamy chicken recipe, family dinner, weeknight meal