Finding that perfect comforting dish when you’re trying to keep things low carb can feel impossible sometimes, right? We all crave that rich, creamy satisfaction without the carb crash later. That’s exactly why I developed this recipe for Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style); it’s my go-to when I need dinner on the table fast but still want something elegant.
This dish proves you don’t have to sacrifice flavor or texture just because you’re eating clean. Based here in Vermont, my focus at Sena Recipes is always creating balanced, real-life meals that actually work for busy weeknights. This version has tender chicken breasts coated in the most luxurious, garlicky sauce you’ve ever tasted, and trust me—it’s shockingly quick to make!
Why This Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style) Works So Well
When I put this recipe together, I really focused on ticking all the boxes for those of us eating low carb or keto. It’s not just about cutting out the bad stuff; it’s about making what’s *left* absolutely shine! This skillet dinner, which you can find more great inspiration for in our Easy Delicious Keto Recipes category, is proof that healthy eating doesn’t mean boring plates.
- It’s incredibly fast—we’re talking under 25 minutes total, which is key for any weeknight game plan.
- It feels luxurious, like something you’d order out, but you control every single ingredient.
- It fits perfectly into any balanced eating plan.
High Protein Content for Satiety
Because we are leaning heavily on that beautiful chicken breast, this is perfect for those looking for High Protein Dinner Ideas. Protein is what keeps you satisfied for hours, preventing those mindless snacking urges later in the evening. You cook it, you eat it, and you genuinely aren’t hungry an hour later—that’s a win!
Authentic Creamy Texture Without Carbs
The secret weapon here is the heavy cream paired with the reduced stock. Unlike recipes that use flour or cornstarch as thickeners, we rely on the natural fat content in the cream. When it simmers down slightly, it coats the chicken beautifully, giving you that thick, decadent texture you crave without adding any unwanted starches or sugars to your meal plan.
Gathering Ingredients for Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)
You know how much I love recipes where the ingredient list is short and sweet? This Creamy Garlic Chicken is exactly that! We aren’t running all over town for fancy things; just good quality basics. The key here is getting your components ready before you start cooking, especially pounding that chicken thin. You’ll need about a pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded down to maybe a quarter or half-inch thick so they cook evenly and fast. Then, the stars of the show: about eight cloves of garlic, sliced thin—don’t skimp on the garlic! For the sauce, grab half a cup of good chicken stock and a full cup of heavy cream.
You can check out more fantastic High Protein Recipes Dinner ideas on our site if you’re planning a big week of cooking. And don’t forget two tablespoons of butter, salt, pepper, and parsley for garnish if you’re feeling fancy!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Okay, let’s talk about making this work for *your* kitchen. Grandma taught me never to burn the garlic, and it’s true here—if it gets dark brown, the sauce will taste bitter. Trust me on that one! For the liquid base, if you don’t have stock, bone broth is a wonderful swap, just make sure it doesn’t have any hidden sweeteners if you’re really sticking to keto. Also, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream, but be warned: your sauce won’t be nearly as thick or luxurious. We want decadence, so heavy cream is the way to go for those perfect low carb healthy meals!
Mastering the Skillet: How to Prepare Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)
Alright, let’s get cooking! Since this is a super quick skillet dish, you want everything ready to go before you even turn on the heat. This is a perfect example of an easy healthy chicken dinner that comes together faster than takeout. The key to success is managing your heat, especially when working with the garlic!
Searing the Chicken for Flavor
First things first: season your pounded chicken well with salt and pepper. You’ll melt one tablespoon of butter in your deep skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and let it sear undisturbed for about four to six minutes until it gets that perfect golden-brown color. Flip it and cook the other side the same way until it’s *just* cooked through. Don’t worry if it looks slightly underdone; it will finish cooking in the sauce later. Take it out immediately and cover it loosely with foil so it stays warm—we’re saving all those delicious brown bits in the pan!
Building the Low Carb Garlic Cream Sauce
Now for the sauce, and this is where you have to pay attention! Add that remaining tablespoon of butter to the same pan, then toss in all that thinly sliced garlic. You only cook this about 30 to 60 seconds until it smells amazing—I mean, really fragrant. If you let it go brown, your sauce will turn bitter, and we don’t want that! Next, pour in the chicken stock and let it bubble down until it’s cut in half. Then, slowly whisk in the heavy cream and let that simmer gently for about three to five minutes until it visibly thickens up. That’s the magic moment for a great Keto Dinner Recipes base!
Tips for Perfect Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style) Every Time
Even though this dish is fast, there are a couple of little secrets I learned the hard way to make sure your sauce is always silky, not split. The biggest thing is the garlic—seriously, watch it like a hawk! I once got distracted answering a call while searing mine, and the whole pan went bitter. It was a total loss, and I had to start over. Lesson learned: fragrant only!
When you reduce the stock, make sure you actually see it shrink by about half. This concentrates the flavor so you don’t have to rely on salty bouillon cubes. Also, when you add the heavy cream, keep that heat at a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil. A hard boil can actually cause the sauce to separate, and nobody wants greasy bits floating in their sauce.
When you return the chicken to the pan at the very end, just let it warm through for a minute in the sauce. If you cook it too long at this stage, you risk drying out your beautiful chicken breasts! If you want to see another great way I incorporate garlic and chicken without carbs, check out my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Meatloaves—a fantastic make-ahead option.
Serving Suggestions for Your Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)
Now that we have this gorgeous, rich sauce, we have to serve it with something that can really soak up all that flavor! Since we’re keeping things light and focusing on Low Carb Dinner Ideas, ditch the pasta and think green. My absolute favorite pairing is a big bowl of cauliflower mash—it mimics mashed potatoes perfectly and holds up beautifully to the garlic sauce.
If you want something green, you can’t go wrong with lightly steamed asparagus or some quickly sautéed spinach. Steamed green beans tossed with a little butter and salt are also fantastic. If you’re looking for a more interesting veggie side that still keeps things low carb and totally delicious, you could try my recipe for Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Pecans—the sweetness plays so nicely against the savory chicken!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Creamy Garlic Chicken
I know you’ll want to save any extras because this freezes up so well for those days when you just don’t want to cook. Storing leftovers is super simple. Just put the chicken and any leftover sauce into an airtight container—make sure it seals well! Pop it in the fridge right away. The notes say you can safely enjoy this for about three to four days.
When you reheat it, try to do it gently on the stovetop over low heat. If you put the sauce on high heat right away, it might split or look oily. Just let it warm slowly, making sure to stir often so that gorgeous creamy texture comes back beautifully. It’s perfect for a quick lunch the next day!
Frequently Asked Questions About Low Carb Healthy Recipes
I get so many questions about making sure these kinds of recipes fit into different healthy eating plans, especially for those folks committed to Keto High Protein Meals. It’s all about understanding what works and what doesn’t when you’re cutting carbs. I pulled together a few of the most common things readers ask me when they’re stocking up on High Protein Recipes Dinner ideas like this one!
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts for this Creamy Garlic Chicken?
Oh, absolutely you can! Chicken thighs are fantastic; they stay incredibly juicy, even if you accidentally cook them a minute too long. The only real thing you need to watch out for is the cooking time in Step 3. Thighs are generally a bit thicker, so you might need an extra minute or two per side during that initial sear to get them close to done. Just make sure they reach 165°F internally!
Is this recipe suitable for strict Keto diets?
Yes, it is! This recipe shines as a Low Carb Dinner Idea because the majority of the carbs come from the minimal amounts of stock and the heavy cream, which are very low overall. We aren’t adding any starches or sugars, so if you stick to the recipe, you’ll find the net carbs per serving are super low, making it perfect for staying in ketosis.
Nutritional Snapshot of Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)
I always like to give you a peek at what you’re putting into your body, especially with these Healthy High Protein Recipes. Based on the ingredients listed above—and remember these are estimates based on standard sizing—this dish is packed with goodness! This fits beautifully into plans focusing on weight loss recipes.
For one serving, you’re looking at about 450 calories. The best part? It delivers a whopping 30 grams of protein! That helps keep you full, while net carbs stay super low at just 4 grams per serving. The fat comes in around 35 grams, mostly from the beautiful heavy cream and butter we use to make that sauce heavenly. It’s all about balance!
Share Your Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style) Experience
I truly hope this tastes as comforting in your kitchen as it does in mine! This recipe is such a staple for me, and I love hearing how it helps you manage those busy weeknights while keeping up with your health goals. Have you tried it yet?
Head down to the comments below and let me know what you thought! Did you pair it with cauliflower mash or something else? I’d be thrilled if you rated this dish and shared a picture on social media—tag me so I can see your gorgeous Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)! You can learn more about my philosophy on healthy, accessible cooking right here on my author page.
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Creamy Garlic Chicken (Low Carb Style)
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Make this simple, elegant, and high-protein creamy garlic chicken. This low-carb dinner features tender chicken coated in a rich, flavorful garlic cream sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken (thin cut or pounded to about 1/4 to 1/2-inch thin)
- salt
- pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 8 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (minced, optional)
Instructions
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chicken and cook on one side until golden brown, about 4-6 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken.
- Flip, and cook the other side for another 4-6 minutes or until the chicken is just cooked through and no longer pink in the middle.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and tent with aluminum foil to keep it warm.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the sliced garlic.
- Cook for 30-60 seconds, or until just fragrant.
- Add the chicken stock and simmer until reduced by half, about 2-3 minutes.
- Slowly add the heavy cream and simmer until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken back to the pan and coat with the sauce.
- Garnish with fresh, minced parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Do not brown or burn the garlic; this creates a bitter sauce.
- You can substitute bone broth for the chicken stock. Check labels for gluten content in stocks.
- You can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, but the sauce will be less thick and creamy.
- Store leftover chicken and sauce in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken with sauce
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 150
Keywords: Creamy Garlic Chicken, Low Carb Chicken, Keto Chicken, High Protein Dinner, Easy Low Carb Meals, Garlic Cream Sauce, Healthy Chicken Recipe