Description
This Creamy Ranch Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich and creamy ranch sauce, topped with melted shredded cheese. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, it’s easy to make in just 34 minutes and serves 4 people.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Creamy Ranch Sauce
- 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Season and Sear Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear each side until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes per side.
- Make Creamy Ranch Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Pour chicken broth into the skillet and stir to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in the ranch seasoning mix and heavy cream, mixing well to combine into a smooth sauce.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over each piece, and cover. Let the chicken cook gently in the sauce for an additional 8-10 minutes, or until fully cooked and tender.
- Add Cheese and Melt: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the chicken breasts. Cover the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve Hot: Remove the skillet from heat and serve the chicken breasts hot, spooning extra creamy ranch sauce over each serving. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh chicken breasts of equal thickness for even cooking.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- Add chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or chives on top for extra flavor and color.
- Serve with steamed vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
- If ranch seasoning packet is not available, use 1 tablespoon homemade ranch seasoning blend.
