Description
Creamy Ranch Chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make skillet dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a rich and flavorful ranch cream sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, it combines a simple ranch seasoning with cream cheese and cheddar for a creamy texture that pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ packet ranch seasoning mix (from 1 oz packet)
Sauce
- ½ packet ranch seasoning mix (remaining from 1 oz packet)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Garnish (optional)
- Fresh parsley or chives, chopped
Instructions
- Season and Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with half of the ranch seasoning and black pepper. Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Cream Sauce: Lower the heat to low. In the same skillet, add the heavy cream, chicken broth, softened cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and the remaining half of the ranch seasoning mix. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce becomes smooth and thick, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet with the sauce. Spoon the sauce generously over the chicken. Let the skillet simmer gently for another 2 to 3 minutes to heat everything through and allow the flavors to meld.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives if desired. Serve immediately, ideally over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta for a complete meal.
Notes
- Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta for a complete meal.
- Substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce version.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese for added protein and a tangier flavor.
- Check ranch seasoning mix ingredients to ensure it is gluten-free if necessary.
