Description

This Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice is a delightful, flavorful dish combining juicy seared chicken breasts with a zesty lemon-garlic scampi sauce, served over creamy garlic-infused parmesan rice. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this recipe balances savory, tangy, and cheesy notes in a simple skillet and stovetop preparation.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken Scampi

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
3 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

For the Garlic Parmesan Rice

1 tablespoon butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup white rice
2 cups chicken broth
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season them evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika to infuse flavor.
Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5 to 6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.
Sauté Garlic for Sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to low and add butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant, careful not to burn the garlic.
Deglaze and Simmer Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the skillet’s bottom to loosen flavorful browned bits. Add lemon zest and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes to deepen the flavors.
Return Chicken and Finish Sauce: Place the chicken back into the skillet and spoon the sauce over the top. Let it simmer together for another 2 to 3 minutes so the chicken absorbs the flavors.
Prepare Garlic Butter for Rice: In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Toast the Rice: Stir the white rice into the saucepan, toasting it for about 1 minute to enhance its nuttiness.
Cook the Rice: Add the chicken broth to the rice, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender.
Finish the Rice: Remove the rice from heat and stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for creaminess and fresh flavor.
Serve: Plate the garlic parmesan rice and top with the chicken breasts. Spoon the lemon garlic scampi sauce generously over the chicken and rice. Garnish with extra chopped parsley and optional red pepper flakes for a little heat if desired.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs for a juicier alternative, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for best texture and flavor in the rice.
Red pepper flakes add a nice kick but can be omitted for a milder dish.
Leftover cooked chicken can be shredded and added back into the sauce for a quicker meal.
For gluten-free option, ensure chicken broth is certified gluten free.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken scampi, garlic parmesan rice, lemon chicken, easy chicken dinner, skillet chicken recipe, garlic butter rice