Description
Savor the rich and tangy flavors of Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet, a simple yet delicious one-pan meal combining tender chicken with zesty pepperoncini peppers in a luscious creamy sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this flavor-packed dish is loved by both adults and kids, requiring minimal ingredients and delivering maximum taste.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Protein
- 4 chicken breasts or thighs (about 1.5 lbs), seasoned
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced, including juice
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Dairy
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Liquids & Oils
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Season the chicken breasts or thighs generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken. Cook until golden brown on both sides and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes per side, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add a bit more olive oil if needed, then sauté finely chopped onions and minced garlic until translucent and fragrant. This step builds the flavor base for the creamy sauce.
- Deglaze and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Stir in the pepperoncini peppers along with their juice, letting everything simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
- Make it creamy: Reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to thicken slightly while stirring, about 3-4 minutes, creating that perfect creamy texture with a tangy twist.
- Combine and finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over each piece. Let it all warm together for a couple of minutes so the chicken absorbs the delicious flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed before serving.
Notes
- Even cooking: Pound chicken to an even thickness for uniform cooking and tender results.
- Use the juice: Don’t discard pepperoncini juice—it adds a wonderful tang to the sauce.
- Control the creaminess: Adjust heavy cream quantity to your preferred sauce thickness.
- Cheese choice: Use freshly grated Parmesan for best melting and flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd: Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid steaming instead of browning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg