Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Scampi with Rice Recipe
This Chicken Scampi Creamy Garlic Rice is a flavorful and comforting one-pan dish featuring tender, seasoned chicken pieces sautéed with garlic, lemon, and Italian seasonings, served over perfectly cooked creamy Parmesan-infused rice. Ready in just 45 minutes, it combines the bright zest of lemon with the richness of heavy cream and Parmesan for a delicious and hearty meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 450 g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Aromatics and Rice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
- 300 g long-grain white rice
- 720 ml chicken broth
Creamy Finish
- 120 ml heavy cream
- 100 g grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges (for serving)
Instructions
- Brown the Chicken: In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil and unsalted butter over medium-high heat. Season chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Sauté the chicken in the skillet until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Aromatics and Lemon: Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest, using this mixture to deglaze the pan and lift up any flavorful browned bits.
- Toast Rice and Simmer: Add the uncooked long-grain white rice to the skillet, stirring well to coat each grain with the garlic and lemon mixture. Toast the rice for 1 to 2 minutes until slightly translucent and aromatic. Pour in the chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the skillet and cook the rice for 18 to 20 minutes until it is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Incorporate Cream and Cheese: Once the rice is fully cooked, stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese thoroughly to create a rich and creamy texture. Mix until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Assemble and Serve: Arrange the sautéed chicken pieces over the creamy garlic rice. Garnish the dish with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley and serve alongside lemon wedges for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Make sure to watch the garlic closely to avoid burning, as it can turn bitter.
- If you prefer spicier food, increase crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest flavor impact.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: chicken scampi, creamy garlic rice, lemon chicken, one-pan dinner, Parmesan rice, Italian chicken recipe