Description
This creamy ranch chicken recipe features tender, seared chicken breasts simmered in a rich, flavorful ranch-infused sauce made with chicken broth, sour cream, and a blend of spices. Ready in about 40 minutes, this comforting dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5–8 oz. each)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 (1 oz.) packet Ranch seasoning mix
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even 1-inch thickness using a meat mallet and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to ensure even cooking and balanced flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter with the olive oil. Sear the chicken breasts on each side for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Make Roux: Reduce the heat to low and add the remaining butter to the skillet. Stir in the flour and cook for about one minute to create a roux, which will help thicken the sauce.
- Add Broth: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while scraping up any browned bits stuck to the pan, which adds rich flavor to the sauce.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the milk, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and ranch seasoning mix until the sour cream and ranch seasoning are fully incorporated into the sauce.
- Simmer Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken and any collected juices back to the skillet. Spoon sauce over the chicken and let it simmer gently until the chicken is heated through and the sauce thickens slightly, coating the chicken beautifully.
- Serve: Plate the chicken breasts and spoon extra sauce over them. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired for a burst of color and freshness.
- Enjoy: Serve the creamy ranch chicken hot for a comforting and delicious meal.
Notes
- Pounding the chicken to an even thickness ensures it cooks evenly and stays tender.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to control the salt level.
- For a richer sauce, full-fat sour cream and whole milk are recommended.
- Fresh parsley adds a bright herbal note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.