Description

This Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice is a delicious and flavorful dinner recipe featuring tender seared chicken breasts simmered in a zesty lemon garlic butter sauce, served over rich and creamy garlic parmesan rice. It’s a comforting meal perfect for weeknights or special occasions.

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 both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
Sauté Garlic in Butter: Lower the heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter and minced garlic to the same skillet. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant but not browned.
Deglaze and Simmer Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the bottom of the skillet to lift any browned bits. Stir in the lemon zest and allow the sauce to simmer gently for 3–4 minutes.
Return Chicken to Sauce: Place the cooked chicken breasts back into the skillet, spooning the sauce over them, and let them simmer together for 2–3 minutes to absorb the flavors.
Prepare Garlic Parmesan Rice – Sauté Garlic: In a separate medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant.
Toast the Rice: Add the white rice to the saucepan and stir continuously for about 1 minute to lightly toast the grains.
Cook the Rice: Pour in 2 cups of chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let the rice simmer for 15 minutes until tender and liquid is absorbed.
Finish the Rice: Remove the rice from heat. Stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley until well combined.
Serve: Plate the garlic parmesan rice and top with the chicken breasts. Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over the chicken and rice. Garnish with extra chopped parsley and red pepper flakes as desired.

Notes

You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter flavor.
For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or serve with freshly cracked black pepper.
Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
Parmesan cheese adds richness to the rice; use freshly grated cheese for best results.
Leftover rice and chicken can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated gently.

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

Keywords: Chicken Scampi, Garlic Parmesan Rice, Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken, Easy Dinner, Comfort Food, Skillet Chicken