Description
This Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice is a delicious, creamy, and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken strips sautéed in a garlic butter sauce, served over rich and creamy Parmesan-infused rice. The meal combines zesty lemon juice, savory garlic, and a hint of red pepper flakes for a perfect balance of bold and comforting flavors, making it an ideal dinner for family nights or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken & Seasoning
- 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized strips
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Sauce & Cooking
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 3 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth (divided)
Rice & Garnish
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized strips and season them evenly with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to enhance flavor.
- Sear the chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken strips in batches until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, then remove and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce heat to medium-low, melt the remaining butter in the same skillet, add the minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant, approximately 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Prepare the sauce: Pour in the lemon juice and ½ cup chicken broth into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce slightly reduces and concentrates in flavor.
- Cook the rice: In a separate saucepan, combine the rice with the remaining 1 cup of chicken broth. Cover and cook on low heat until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes.
- Make rice creamy: Stir the heavy cream and freshly grated Parmesan cheese into the cooked rice until creamy and well combined. Adjust seasoning if necessary to taste.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken strips to the skillet with the garlic butter sauce, stirring to coat the chicken evenly. Let it heat through gently on low heat for 2 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Serve and garnish: Plate the creamy garlic Parmesan rice and top with the garlic butter chicken. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and texture.
- To save time, you can use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken, adding it at the final step to heat through.
- Leftover rice can be reheated with a splash of cream or broth to restore creaminess.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, although the sauce will be less rich.
