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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs

    Published: May 4, 2021 · Modified: May 29, 2022 by Radwa · This post may contain affiliate links. 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    In this Creamy garlic chicken thighs recipe, The tender chicken thighs are drowned in a delicious creamy garlic sauce, which is perfect for a quick weeknight meal.

    This is a one-pot recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes, and it is best served over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

    Creamy garlic chicken thighs a large wok

    All it takes to make this mouth-watering dish is a handful of ingredients and a pot or skillet. The sauce has an amazing depth of flavour, and the chicken is tender and succulent. This recipe is versatile and is a must-try dish.

    Why this recipe works?

    It is easy to make, low in carbohydrates and pairs well with most veggies. The chicken is tender and juicy; the creamy garlic sauce has a great flavour. It is best for a busy weeknight meal and is a great choice for those following a low carb diet. This recipe is adaptable as you can serve this dish with any side of your choice.

    Creamy garlic chicken thighs a large wok

    What do you need for this recipe?

    • Chicken: This recipe uses chicken thighs with both and skin on.
    • Heavy cream: You can use heavy cream or whipping cream to give a sweet and creamy base for the sauce.
    • Seasonings: Salt, black pepper and paprika.
    • Chicken stock: Make sure to use good quality chicken broth for the best flavour.
    • Fresh rosemary: Fresh rosemary adds an aromatic flavour to the dish.
    • Garlic: This chicken recipe uses a lot of crushed garlic. You can add as much garlic as you like based on your taste.
    • Olive oil: You may also use butter or vegetable oil.

    How to Make Creamy Garlic Chicken thighs?

    Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper and paprika
    pan-fry the chicken thighs until they become golden brown

    Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper and paprika.
    Heat the oil in a wok or skillet on medium heat, then pan-fry the chicken thighs until they become golden brown and crispy from both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.

    Now, clean the skillet from the chicken fat, then add one tablespoon of olive oil and saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Return the chicken into the pan and add chicken broth, heavy cream and rosemary. Lower the heat and let it simmer (for about 9-10 minutes) until the sauce reduces a little.

    Garnish with some chopped basil and serve.

    Top Tips

    • A meat thermometer is a great way to check if the chicken is done. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165degrees.
    • If you want this dish spicy, you can add extra paprika to amp up the flavour.
    • Be sure not to burn the garlic as it would give a bitter taste.
    • You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or chicken bone broth.
    • Substitute chicken thighs with boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
    • You may also substitute heavy cream with milk or half-and-half.
    • You may garnish with grated parmesan cheese right before serving.
    • Always cook your chicken skin side first as the fat from the skin will coat the pan; this way, you can avoid the other side from sticking.
    • If the sauce isn’t thickening up, you can add some corn starch to the sauce; it will thicken the sauce. And, if you like your sauce a little thinner, add milk instead of heavy cream.
    Creamy garlic chicken thighs a large wok

    Recipe variations

    • You can add some veggies to the creamy garlic sauce if you like.
    • Swap the chicken with shrimp, chicken tenders, steaks or salmon. The creamy garlic sauce will pair perfectly with all of them. Make sure to adjust cooking time accordingly.
    • Mushrooms: Adding mushrooms while cooking the chicken or add them to your sauce.
    • Spinach: Add fresh spinach in the last 3-5 minutes of cooking the chicken, giving the dish a fantastic flavour.
    • Use fresh or dried herbs, like thyme or basil.
    • Add some sun-dried or cherry tomatoes for a great texture.
    • You can add sliced artichoke hearts to the sauce.

    Serving suggestions

    This creamy garlic chicken thighs recipe is so versatile that it goes with all kinds of sides. The classic sides are mashed potatoes, veggie salad or roasted veggies. You may also serve them with:

    • Taco pasta - one-pot recipe
    • Pesto pasta - with homemade pesto sauce
    • Mashed potato and onion pie
    • Pasta al forno (italian baked pasta)
    • Cheese pie
    Creamy garlic chicken thigh in a plate

    Storage

    To store: You can store this dish for about 2-3 days in an air-tight container in the fridge. Leftover creamy garlic chicken thighs make a great filling for wraps or sandwiches.

    To freeze: You can keep to in the freezer for 1-2 months. Make sure to freeze when it cools down, and use an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for freezing.

    Recipe FAQs

    Do I have to use chicken thighs?

    This recipe uses chicken thighs with bone and skin on as they are moist and have extra flavour. But, you may also use chicken breasts boneless and skinless based on how you like them.

    Can I bake this dish?

    Yes, if you want to bake it, make sure to reduce the liquid by ⅓rd. Bake until the chicken is cooked.

    Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream?

    Yes, you can use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream. The sauce will not be as thick when you use heavy cream.

    Can I add garlic powder instead of crushed garlic?

    Yes, you can add garlic powder to the sauce. But the sauce tastes best when you add fresh garlic cloves. You may also add garlic powder with fresh garlic. It gives that extra garlicky flavour to the delicious sauce.

    Can I use full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream or milk?

    Using full-fat coconut milk gives a great texture and a thick consistency to the sauce when compared to regular milk.

    More Chicken Recipes

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      Baked Chicken Poppers Recipe
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      Indian Tandoori Chicken (Oven Baked)
    • Creamy Mushroom Chicken
      One Pan Creamy Mushroom Chicken Breasts
    • Crispy Baked Cornflake Chicken Nuggets
      Crispy Baked Cornflake Chicken Nuggets

    Recipe Card

    Creamy Garlic Chicken
    Print Pin
    5 from 9 votes

    Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs

    In this Creamy garlic chicken thighs recipe, The tender chicken thighs are drowned in a delicious creamy garlic sauce, which is perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 9 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time 29 minutes minutes
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 228kcal
    Author Radwa

    Equipment

    • Frying pan
    • Garlic press

    Ingredients

    • 750 g chicken thighs , bones and skin on
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup chicken stock
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 sprig rosemary
    • 6 cloves garlic , crushed
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil

    Instructions

    • Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper and paprika.
    • Heat the oil in a wok or skillet on medium heat, then pan-fry the chicken thighs until they become golden brown and crispy from both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
    • Now, clean the skillet from the chicken fat, add one tablespoon of olive oil and saute the garlic for 30 seconds. Return the chicken into the pan and add chicken broth, heavy cream and thyme. Lower the heat and let it simmer (for about 9-10 minutes) until the sauce reduces a little.
    • Garnish with some chopped basil, and serve.

    Notes

    • A meat thermometer is a great way to check if the chicken is done. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165degrees.
    • If you want this dish spicy, you can add extra paprika to amp up the flavour.
    • Be sure not to burn the garlic as it would give a bitter taste.
    • You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or chicken bone broth.
    • Substitute chicken thighs with boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
    • You may also substitute heavy cream with milk or half-and-half.
    • You may garnish with grated parmesan cheese right before serving.
    • Always cook your chicken skin side first as the fat from the skin will coat the pan; this way, you can avoid the other side from sticking.
    • If the sauce isn’t thickening up, you can add some corn starch to the sauce; it will thicken the sauce. And, if you like your sauce a little thinner, add milk instead of heavy cream.

    Variations

    • You can add some veggies to the creamy garlic sauce if you like.
    • Swap the chicken with shrimp, chicken tenders, steaks or salmon. The creamy garlic sauce will pair perfectly with all of them. Make sure to adjust cooking time accordingly.
    • Mushrooms: Adding mushrooms while cooking the chicken or add them to your sauce.
    • Spinach: Add fresh spinach in the last 3-5 minutes of cooking the chicken, giving the dish a fantastic flavour.
    • Use fresh or dried herbs, like thyme or basil.
    • Add some sun-dried or cherry tomatoes for a great texture.
    • You can add sliced artichoke hearts to the sauce.
    To store: You can store this dish for about 2-3 days in an air-tight container in the fridge. Leftover creamy garlic chicken thighs make a great filling for wraps or sandwiches.
    To freeze: You can keep to in the freezer for 1-2 months. Make sure to freeze when it cools down, and use an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for freezing.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @HealthyLifeTrainer or tag #healthylifetrainer!

    Pin it, if you like it.

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    If you have a question about this Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs recipe, please leave a comment or contact me via the contact page. And if you make this recipe, don't forget to rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caroline

      May 11, 2021 at 2:33 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was so easy and delicious! I will definitely make this chicken recipe again! My kids loved it! Thank you!

      Reply
    2. Wafa

      May 05, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe! It is very adaptable. I made this recipe, and it was great. I served it with white rice and some roasted veggies. Thanks so much for this great recipe!

      Reply
    3. Olivia

      May 05, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for this lovely recipe. I was looking for new chicken recipes everywhere.

      Reply
    4. Codi

      May 05, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was so quick and easy. I used basil instead of rosemary, and I served it with mashed potatoes.

      Reply

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    Hello! I’m Radwa, A wife and mother. Also, I am the recipe maker and food photographer behind Healthy Life Trainer. I love making new, simple and quick recipes every day.

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