Easy cream cheese chicken is just a few basic ingredients and simple to make, with a deliciously creamy sauce that coats every piece. Ready in less than 30 minutes!
Serve over steamed rice and pair with broccoli or another vegetable and dinner is done!
This post has been updated with new photos and a new recipe video.
So you know I'm all about the easy chicken dinners right?
Well this is a super simple, deliciously creamy chicken recipe I've been making for years and years now and just had to share with you!
Easy cream cheese chicken has tender strips of chicken that are cooked and coated in a yummy cream cheese mixture, along with some onions and mushrooms.
Everything gets sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, which melts down over the chicken and veggies at the end.
It's so scrumptious and it's perfect when I need something that's quick but comforting. Something easy and kid friendly that the whole family will happily sit down to at night.
Plus, this recipe is ready in about 25 minutes and it's only got 7 main ingredients!
And I love that this has no heavy cream, which I never seem to have in the fridge.
That luxuriously creamy sauce that coats the chicken and mushrooms is just cream cheese and some chicken broth. It melts down with all the flavors from the sautéed onions and mushrooms and the seared bits from the chicken and makes such a delicious sauce.
(I've used that trick before with chicken breast with jalapeño cheese sauce and healthy creamy Italian chicken skillet, among others. We've also rounded up our most popular healthy creamy chicken recipes if you want to browse more.)
And because of that sauce, you're definitely going to want to serve this over some fluffy steamed rice. (Some readers also love it with mashed potatoes.) Add some steamed broccoli or peas, green beans or asparagus, and dinner is done.
I've also got this slow cooker cream cheese chicken if you want to try making it that way for a hands off version.
OK, let's get cooking!
Ingredient Notes:
Chicken: You can use more than the 1 ½ lbs. of chicken in this recipe, but you'll want to increase the cream cheese and chicken broth to make extra sauce. The sauce is SOOO good!
Mushrooms: I love the mushrooms in with this recipe but you could skip them if you don't have any on hand - or don't like them. I've made this without mushrooms before and it was still delicious.
Cream cheese: The recipe calls for the ⅓-less fat cream cheese and it's deliciously creamy. Go for the real deal if you prefer, but I don't recommend using fat free cream cheese.
Broth: If you don't have any chicken broth, you could substitute vegetable broth or just use water.
Mozzarella: I love the melty mozzarella cheese on top but you could also try this served with grated Parmesan if you prefer.
Parsley: The parsley is good as a garnish but adds a nice herby freshness too. Feel free to skip it or to use some dried herbs as a seasoning on the chicken if you'd like.
As is, this recipe is gluten-free, low carb and keto-friendly.
Chicken Tip:
You'll notice I cut my boneless, skinless chicken breasts into long strips. That helps ensure more even and quick cooking and also helps stretch the chicken to feed more people. Win, win, win!
You could also dice up the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes if you'd rather have smaller pieces. Just be sure not to overcook them.
And feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this recipe too. They just might need some additional cook time to get cooked all the way through.
There you go, another family favorite from our table to yours!
I hope you give this a try for a weeknight dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. You can browse all of my 30-minute chicken recipes for more cooking inspiration!
Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 8 oz. white button mushrooms, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in long, 1-inch wide strips
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 oz. regular or reduced-fat plain cream cheese
- ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ to ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
For serving:
- Steamed brown or white rice
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add oil.
- Add onions and mushrooms and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
- Meanwhile, slice the chicken into strips and season with the salt and pepper.
- Increase the heat to medium high, then add the seasoned chicken strips to the pan. Sear for 6-8 minutes, turning once, until the chicken strips are golden brown.
- Add the cream cheese and chicken broth and stir until the cream cheese is melted and well incorporated. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the entire pan, then cover, reduce heat and cook another 2-3 minutes, our until chicken is cooked through. (It should reach 165 if you are using a meat thermometer.) Season to taste with extra salt and pepper.
- Serve the chicken and mushrooms over steamed rice, with parsley if desired.
Save This Recipe
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Here is an earlier photo of this recipe:
Anmar says
Could you substitute the chicken broth for milk? Instead of water.
Kathryn Doherty says
Yes, that should work just fine. Would love to hear if you try it!
Derek Cox says
I tried the cheesy chicken and wow it was fantastic and so easy to cook brilliant and a big thank you
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy to hear you loved it Derek! Thanks for sharing!
Sb says
This was amazing! I didnt use mushrooms and i doubled the broth measurements. My 6 year old said "mom this food has good ingredients" after he took his first bite 🙂
Kathryn Doherty says
Haha, that's so great! I'm so happy you all enjoyed it - thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Tammy says
I’m gonna try this recipe tomorrow but I have to say this was a long winded post for a recipe. You just went on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on Before we got to the recipe. I’m not sure what that was about and In less you’re trying to market stuff like the rice that you can buy. But boy was that long!
Kathryn Doherty says
I hope you enjoy it!
Stephanie says
It’s called blogging!
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you Stephanie ❤️
Stephanie says
❤️
Jasmin says
You could have just skipped to the recipe. 😂😂😂😂😂
Maia says
This was a very long-winded comment. Not sure what this was about and “in less” you’re trying to market stuff like rudeness and sentence fragments.
James says
Funny you don't seem to have a problem being rude and critical of someone else. Always under the guise of tolerance. You don't like what he said so you attack his intelligence and education. You should be ashamed! His comment was not personally hurtful like yours and he has a legit claim. 23 page downs to get to the recipe is ridiculous.
Rose says
OK grammar police!
James says
WOW! Tammy is 100% correct! It took 23 page downs to get to the recipe. I wasn't sure there was a recipe. Maybe you should write a book about your kids or something instead of a blog about recipes, When I read (He’s my baby who’s not at all a baby these days. But he’s still my sweet, happy, super smart, handsome blonde boy that I could just eat right up. ❤️) Puck emoji! That alone sent me scrolling for the recipe. After 8 to 10 scrolls i started scrolling back the other way. Wheres the recipe? Im trying to cook dinner not read all this non sence. All you brown noser's are so sickening! Be honest!
It was way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way way to long! There 23 way's. Clearly to much!
Kathryn Doherty says
James, I don't know what your problem is. This is my website. I will post whatever I like here. If that includes anecdotes about my kids, so be it. I pay money to maintain this site, I spend countless hours developing recipes that are 100% FREE to you, and I don't need your criticism. It is also completely unacceptable to me that you attacked a fellow blog reader above. Please find your free recipes elsewhere and don't visit my site again.
Collen says
Great response, ppl need to be held accountable for themselves. It’s your blog, if they can’t read it all or at least scroll through the post they need to move on to other post or create their own recipes. Btw - this was delicious, not brown nosing as I am eating this as I type and my 3 family members just complimented me on dinner.
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you for the support Collen, it really means a lot to me! And I'm SO glad to hear your family loved this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Grez says
If you consistently seek free recipes online (like me) then you know you have to scroll and scroll until you find the recipe. So what? If I need to spend 5 seconds of my life scrolling until I find deliciousness, who cares? Food makes me happy and I only know amazing recipes because of amazing bloggers. So thank YOU!!
Kathryn Doherty says
You are so welcome! Thanks for the support, it really means a lot!
Karen says
I understand your feelings. You are right. It is your page but without readers you would not have a page so be nice. I kind of agree with him. But you are far from the only one of the dozens of good cooks posting free recipes that I enjoy trying who takes way too long getting to the recipe. Some thankfully have started posting a “skip to the recipe” at the beginning. That’s a gift to busy readers.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into your page.
Kathryn Doherty says
Thanks Karen
CATHY C TARR says
She doesn't have to be nice to rude, ignorant people. She'll have plenty of readers without folks who like to put her or anyone else down
Gina Blythe says
Good for you! Was hoping you’d say something!
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you Gina! ❤️
CATHY C TARR says
Good for you Kathryn. Who do people think they are?
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you Cathy! ❤️ I think the part in his comment about my children triggered my internal mama bear and just crossed a line for me. I appreciate your support!
Kay says
James, you should probably just google “easy recipes for impatient people”. If it’s too long, just scroll to the bottom where the recipe is. Nobody said you had to read the blog. You sure are a special kind of ignorant.
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you Kay! ❤️
Jack says
This is not an original recipe. I’ve seen other people make this.
Amber says
Everybody knows that “scrolling down” to find what you’re looking for is just so annoying. Get a life! Maybe you’re new to the internet, but this is how it works. If you don’t like what the blogger has to say, I would suggest going to Barnes and noble to buy a good old fashioned cookbook. Good luck with that!
Kathryn Doherty says
😘
Dee says
Dearest Tammy,
It's called creating content. And it enhances her online income. Just jump to the recipe if you can't spend a moment or two absorbing the backstory to the recipe she has worked weeks to create and hours to post for your consumption, which by the way comes to you for free.
Gratitude my friend, it's a good thing.
Kathryn Doherty says
Thank you Dee 😊🙏
Betsy Simmons says
Did you REALLY feel the need to be such a witch? Ever heard of keep scrolling?
Christine says
Wow! Delicious! Everyone loved it!! Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Lupe says
Thank you so much Kathryn for all the hard work that you put into in going into detail. I could imagine every moment of your blog. I stumbled upon this because my fiancé requested chicken with cream and I can’t wait to cook up a storm. I am definitely going to come back to your Blog
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy you found me! 😊 I hope you and your fiancé enjoy this cream cheese chicken - and congratulations on the upcoming wedding!
Connie says
Outstanding. It started out iffy when I browned the chicken before the veggies, but it came out delicious. So glad I happened upon the recipe - love recipes where all the ingredients are “staples”.
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy you loved it Connie! And yes - I'm all about some recipes with easy, on-hand ingredients! 😊
Chrissy says
So good! My whole family loved it, including my 1 year old!
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay! Love to hear that; thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Amber says
Have you made it with bacon?
Kathryn Doherty says
I have not but that sounds like a great idea! You could fry the bacon in the pan and then use the bacon grease instead of oil to saute the onions and mushrooms before proceeding with the recipe. (And then serve the cooked, crumbled bacon on top of the dish) That would add some extra flavor! Or, you could of course cook the bacon separately and just sprinkle it over the chicken to serve. Would love to hear if you try it!
Amanda Sellers says
Please add a jump to recipe button. Makes it easier to get to it.
Karye says
Do you think minced garlic in the jar would work?
Kathryn Doherty says
Absolutely! It's one of my go-to shortcuts. 🙂
Karye says
I totally missed your reply. But it turned out AMAZING!! My boyfriend wants it at least once a month. ♥️
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy to hear that Karye!! 😊
Darlene Pack says
Love this recipe but if I use more chicken you said increase the cream cheese and broth... do I need to increase any other items in the recipe
Kathryn Doherty says
Hey Darlene, I'm so happy to hear you love this recipe! If you are using 2 lbs. of chicken or so, you're fine just to increase the cream cheese and broth. If you are closer to doubling the amount of chicken, I'd recommend doubling everything so you have enough onions and mushrooms to serve with the chicken. Hope that helps!
LeeAnn says
I took all the ingredients and threw them in the Crock-Pot I added celery left out the mushrooms put it on low and let it cook overnight
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm curious, how did it turn out?
Karrie says
I certainly do! I even buy the fresh garlic in the tube in the produce aisle!
Helene says
Being quarantined means not being able to get to the food store often. Tough when you find a recipe and don’t have all the ingredients. One of the things I loved about this recipe was that I had all the ingredients on hand. I did add fresh spinach in the final few minutes of cooking and served this delicious dish over cauliflower rice. Delicious!
Kathryn Doherty says
I hear you, it's so nice to be able to make a recipe right now when you have all the ingredients. I'm so happy to hear you loved this one too! (And love the spinach add - yum!) 😊
Madison says
Absolutely amazing!! I made this dish for my family tonight and everyone LOVED IT! We will be definitely making this again soon, Thankyou 🙂
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay! I'm so happy to hear you all enjoyed it Madison! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Denise Whitworth says
Do you think you could use flavored cream cheese? I have whipped chive and onion cream cheese on hand.
Kathryn Doherty says
I think that would be delicious! I'm a huge chive and onion fan so that sounds really good. Would love to hear if you try it!
Denise Whitworth says
I made it tonight and it was a big hit with the whole family! Very rare for our family of 5. 😊
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Karen says
We made this recipe for the first time tonight. The flavor was great but the sauce was very thick and didn’t make much. We followed the recipe. Any thoughts on how to make the sauce less thick?
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it Karen! The amount and thickness of the sauce may vary depending on your pan and hot how it gets. I have one non-stick pan that nothing sticks to and gives me lots of sauce, while an older one that has the coating rubbed off a bit seems to come up with less. Also, your sauce might thicken more quickly if the pan is hotter or if you let it simmer a little longer. You can add some extra chicken broth to thin it back out if that happens. I hope that helps!
Karen says
I made this tonight and I have 3 teenage boys and they loved it! I put some of the sauted onion and garlic in with my rice while it was cooking. I thought about adding a little hot sauce but I was out of it. Great recipe! Definitely a keeper!
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy you all enjoyed it!! 😊
Alicia says
Honestly; absolutely delicious!
The other review must have made this terribly wrong (not sure how you can it’s SO easy) this chicken is to die for! We had it with veg and roasted potatoes! I also added a dash of white wine cause when in lockdown why the hell wouldn't you right!
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy to hear you loved it Alicia! And um, big yes to adding a splash of white wine! 😂🙌
Alyssa says
out of curiosity, why would you not use FF cream cheese? I'm just wondering if I should attempt to make it with what I have on hand, or if I should wait and get the right Cream Cheese
Kathryn Doherty says
Hey Alyssa! So, the fat-free kind has less flavor and creaminess and I think it might not incorporate as well into the sauce. However, you can absolutely try it - I doubt it would be a huge problem. (I'm also all about trying to use what you have.) Hope that helps!
Shirley says
This was so delicious. My seven year old loved it and couldn’t get enough of it. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you all loved it Shirley! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Tiffany Stewart says
I just made this and it was absolutely amazing!!!!! I used precooked chicken and doubled the sauce because I added broccoli. Me and the hubby are on the keto diet and this was perfect!!!
Thanks so much!!!!
Kathryn Doherty says
Oh I'm so happy to hear you loved it Tiffany! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Darlene Sweers says
Made this tonight for supper. It was amazing!! I didn't have chicken broth so I added some water. Oh My Gosh, I loved it!. Will definitely be one of my favorites from now on.
Kathryn Doherty says
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you loved it Darlene! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Liberté Harries says
Oh my!! I was looking for a recipe for some left over chicken... i scrolled down and found a super recipe!! Then i read the comments!!! Well i was amused and dismayed at the same time! So out of sheer curiosity i went back and read your blog!!!! I wonder why some people feel so compelled to condemn and criticise? All i can tbink of is that some people have wanted to feel ‘good’ at your expence!! “There you are i told her” i know it’a hard, but take no notice... there were more support comment than negative ones... i’m sure my meal consisting of left offs will be super!!
Kathryn Doherty says
Haha, I don't know why they want to condemn or criticize either! But thank you for the support and I hope you love this dish! XO
Liberté Harries says
Yes it was delish!!
Dustin says
My wife said this was the best thing I’ve ever made! It was simple and delicious!
Kathryn Doherty says
Oh my goodness, I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Margie Hillebrecht says
Going to try tonight. Sounds delicious. I always read the reviews for additional suggestions. Was dismayed to find I had to 'scroll' and 'scroll' to get through all the ridiculous ones about scrolling.
Kathryn Doherty says
Haha, that cracked me up! Hope you enjoyed this dish!
Mai says
I made this dinner and it smelt absolutely weird at first and I was kind of hesitant but then afterwards I was like no, I am doing this right, added more seasoning and BAM it smelt so good the chicken was AWesome, would've never thought of this in a million years, Thank you for sharing this with us!!! 🙂
Kathryn Doherty says
Happy to hear you enjoyed it! 😊
Lisa says
I cooked some bacon and cooked the onion and garlic in it and served it over cauliflower rice. Everything is better with bacon. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Kathryn Doherty says
Yes to adding some bacon - yum! So glad you enjoyed it! 😊
LAURA KAIRIS says
This was very good. I used grated fresh parmesan cheese instead of mozzarella because I didn't have any. i had no rice so I made potatoes and a vegetable. Everyone enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to teach me.
Kathryn Doherty says
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it Laura!