Cheesy Chicken Garlic Butter Dinner

This Cheesy Chicken Garlic Butter Dinner is my go-to when I’m pretending I have my life together. It’s juicy chicken, drowning in garlic butter and cheese—basically culinary therapy that melts on your plate and conveniently hides your kitchen sins. It comes together fast, forgives sloppy chopping, and makes everyone at the table think you did more than reheat something from the countertop. Yes, this pan is too small. No, I won’t wash fewer dishes. Put on an apron, or don’t—your call.

Once, I tried to look fancy and serve this for company. Husband volunteered to slice a lemon and somehow managed to flambé the kitchen towel. The guests clapped like it was part of the show while I heroically fanned the smoke alarm with a spatula. Pro tip: if someone offers to help, smile, give them a plate, and hide the sharp knives. Kids loved the cheese so much they staged a coup for the oven mitt; I lost one mitten and my dignity, but we still ate well.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Buy pre-minced garlic. Yes, I know fresh is better. Fresh is also more work, and I have feelings.
– Use shredded cheese from the bag. It melts like a dream and doesn’t judge your life choices.
– One-pan trick: brown the chicken, toss everything in, and finish in the oven. Fewer dishes = moral victory.
– Prep while the oven preheats. Chop, measure, and pretend you’re cooking with intention.
– Use rotisserie chicken to skip the searing step if you’re running on fumes. It’s not cheating; it’s efficient.

Serving Ideas

– Serve over pasta for maximum comfort. Carb undercarriage: engaged.
– Spoon onto rice or mashed potatoes when you don’t feel like balancing a fork.
– Toss in a salad on the side if you want to feel like a responsible adult.
– Serve with wine if the kids drove you nuts today—red or white, pick whatever you can open one-handed.
– For guests: garnish with parsley and pretend it was plated that way on purpose.

What to Serve It With

Roasted veggies (broccoli, asparagus), buttery garlic green beans, or a crisp Caesar. If you want to keep things shockingly simple, buttered noodles are my personal weak spot and the kids will think you’re a wizard.

✔Tips & Mistakes

– Don’t crowd the pan when searing; you’ll steam the chicken and get sad gray meat. If that happens, smother it in cheese and call it “saucy.”
– Watch the garlic—it goes from fragrant to bitter in a blink. Burnt garlic will make you cry in the spice cabinet.
– Use an instant-read thermometer if you can. Chicken at 165°F is safer and less circus-y than guessing.
– If your pan is too small (it will be, inevitably), do it in batches. Yes, more dishes. No, I won’t wash fewer dishes.

✔Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently so the cheese doesn’t turn into a rubber souvenir.

✔Variations and Substitutions

Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts. Add mushrooms or bell peppers for veg, swap mozzarella for cheddar if you’re feeling rebellious, or use yogurt instead of cream to save calories and dignity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cheesy Chicken Garlic Butter Dinner

This easy dinner features tender chicken in a rich garlic butter sauce with melted cheese.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients

 

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Main Ingredients

• ▢ 1.25 lb boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
• ▢ 3 tbsp unsalted butter divided
• ▢ 4 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese for topping
• ▢ 2 tsp Italian seasoning for flavor
• ▢ 0.5 cup chicken broth low sodium

Instructions

Preparation Steps

• Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add chicken pieces to the skillet. Cook for about 8-10 minutes until browned.
• Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 2 more minutes.
• Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the skillet.
• Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the remaining butter and let it melt, creating a sauce.
• Top chicken with shredded mozzarella. Cover skillet and let cheese melt.
• Serve hot, drizzling over pan sauce for added flavor.

Notes

For a twist, sprinkle fresh parsley before serving!