Description
Creamy Ranch Chicken is a rich and flavorful American dinner dish featuring juicy boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked in a creamy ranch seasoning sauce. This comforting meal combines tender chicken with a smooth blend of cream cheese and chicken broth, enhanced by the signature tangy ranch seasoning, making it perfect for a quick and hearty weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (approximately 1 oz)
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat to prepare for cooking the chicken, ensuring even browning and flavor development.
- Cook the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with ½ teaspoon of black pepper and place them in the hot skillet. Cook each side for 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken breasts from the skillet to a plate and set aside to rest, which helps retain their juices.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet, pour in 1 cup of chicken broth and add the packet of ranch seasoning mix. Stir gently to combine and dissolve the seasoning.
- Add cream cheese: Incorporate the softened 8 ounces of cream cheese into the skillet, stirring continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Simmer with chicken: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Simmer everything together for 5 minutes over medium-low heat to allow the flavors to meld and the chicken to fully absorb the sauce.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add bacon bits or shredded cheddar cheese on top before serving.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened before adding to avoid lumps in the sauce.
- Use bone-in chicken breasts if preferred, but increase cooking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
