Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs

Name: Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 9 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 29 min
Ingredients: 750 g chicken thighs (, bones and skin on); 1/3 cup heavy cream; 1 cup chicken stock; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1 sprig rosemary; 6 cloves garlic (, crushed); 2 tbsp olive oil

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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.

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?

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.

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:

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.

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5 from 8 votes