One-Pot Creamy Garlic Chicken

Some meals are made to impress.
This one is made to comfort.

I usually cook this dish on evenings when the day has taken more than it gave back. If you’re looking for a recipe that feels like an exhale at the end of a long day, this is it.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)
•500 grams boneless chicken (thighs preferred, but breast works too)
•1 tablespoon olive oil
•1 tablespoon butter
•1 small onion, finely chopped
•6 cloves garlic, minced (or more, if you’re like me)
•½ cup chicken stock (or water, if that’s what you have)
•1 cup fresh cream
•Salt, to taste
•1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional, but adds warmth)
•1 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
•Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
Start by heating olive oil and butter together in a deep pan over medium heat. The combination matters—the oil prevents the butter from burning, and the butter adds richness you can taste later in the sauce.

Season the chicken lightly with salt and black pepper. Place it in the pan and let it sear undisturbed for a few minutes on each side until it develops a golden color. You’re not cooking it fully yet; you’re building flavor. Once done, remove the chicken and set it aside.

In the same pan, add the chopped onion. Saute until soft and translucent, letting it absorb all the flavor left behind by the chicken. This is where the dish starts to feel alive.

Add the garlic and stir gently. Garlic burns quickly, so keep the heat moderate and let it cook just until fragrant—about 30 seconds. That smell? That’s the soul of this recipe.

Pour in the chicken stock and let it simmer for two minutes. Use a spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan, lifting all those browned bits into the liquid. That’s not mess—that’s depth.

Lower the heat and slowly add the cream, stirring continuously. Sprinkle in oregano, chili flakes, and a little more black pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the salt if needed.

Return the chicken to the pan, coating it well in the sauce. Cover and let it cook gently for 10–12 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. The sauce will thicken naturally as it simmers, wrapping everything in a soft, creamy finish.

Finish with fresh parsley if you like, and turn off the heat.

How I Like to Serve It
Most nights, I serve this over plain steamed rice. There’s something comforting about how the sauce seeps into every grain. On slower weekends, I pair it with crusty bread and let it soak up every last bit of cream and garlic.

It also works beautifully with mashed potatoes or even pasta. The dish doesn’t insist—it adapts.

Small Tips That Make a Big Difference
•Chicken thighs stay juicier, but breasts are perfectly fine if that’s what you have.

•Fresh cream gives the best texture, but cooking cream works too.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving—the flavors settle and deepen.

•This tastes even better the next day, quietly waiting for you in the fridge.

Final Thoughts
Some recipes aren’t about presentation or perfection. They’re about presence. About standing at the stove, stirring slowly, and letting the day loosen its grip on you.

This one-pot creamy garlic chicken doesn’t try to be extraordinary. It just shows up, warm and reliable—like comfort should.

And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

A Quiet Invitation
If you decide to make this dish, don’t rush it. Let the garlic soften instead of brown. Let the sauce simmer instead of boil. Let the kitchen be quiet for a few minutes. Cooking doesn’t always have to be productive—it can be reflective.

I like to think of recipes like this as small acts of care. Not just for the people we feed, but for ourselves too. In a world that constantly asks us to move faster, choosing to cook something slow and comforting feels almost rebellious.

Maybe you’ll make this on a tired weekday, or maybe on a calm weekend evening when the windows are open and the light fades gently. However it finds its way into your life, I hope it gives you more than a meal. I hope it gives you a pause—a moment where everything feels simple, warm, and quietly enough.