Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice Recipe

Imagine the tantalizing aroma of sizzling garlic and buttery chicken wafting through your kitchen, promising a meal that will make your taste buds dance. This chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice is not just a dish; it’s an experience, where tender chicken pieces meet a fragrant sauce that could convert even the staunchest of non-garlic lovers.

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As you gather your ingredients, you may find yourself reminiscing about cozy family dinners or spontaneous weeknight cooking adventures that somehow turned into culinary masterpieces. Perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself after a long day, this dish is sure to bring joy to any table. Get ready for a flavor explosion that will leave everyone asking for seconds and maybe even the recipe!

I vividly remember my family’s delight when I served chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice at our last dinner gathering.

Essential Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice:

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Aim for 1 lb of chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces for even cooking and easy eating.
• Fresh Garlic: Use 4 cloves of minced garlic for a robust flavor that complements the dish beautifully.
• Chicken Broth: One cup of chicken broth enhances the richness and depth of flavor in the scampi sauce.
• Olive Oil: A tablespoon of olive oil helps achieve a perfect sear on the chicken while adding healthy fats.
• Unsalted Butter: Utilize 4 tablespoons, divided, to enhance creaminess without overwhelming saltiness in the dish.
• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 tbsp) adds a refreshing brightness that balances the richness of the butter and cheese.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional but recommended; use 1 tsp if you enjoy a touch of heat in your meal.
• Fresh Parsley: Chopped parsley (1 tbsp) not only adds color but also brings a fresh herbal note as a garnish.

For the Garlic Parmesan Rice:

• Long-Grain Rice: One cup rinsed long-grain rice gives a fluffy texture that perfectly absorbs flavors from the dish.
• Water: Use 2 cups of water to cook the rice, ensuring it is moist yet fluffy by the end of cooking.
• Fresh Garlic: Another 2 cloves minced garlic enhance the aromatic base for your rice, making it irresistible.
• Butter: Add 1 tablespoon of butter to enrich the rice with a velvety mouthfeel and a hint of flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: One cup of grated parmesan cheese provides a creamy texture and salty depth that elevates the rice.
• Salt: A teaspoon of salt is essential for seasoning both rice and chicken scampi adequately throughout cooking.
• Black Pepper: Season with 1 teaspoon black pepper for an added layer of spice and warmth to the dish.

The full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.

Let’s Make it together

Prepare the Garlic Parmesan Rice: Start by gathering a medium saucepan, which will be your trusted companion for this first step. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat until it becomes bubbly and slightly foamy. The rich aroma of the butter will fill your kitchen as you add in the minced garlic. Sauté it for about 1 minute until it turns golden and fragrant—this is where the magic begins. Next, introduce your rinsed long-grain rice into the pan; give it a gentle stir for about 1-2 minutes, allowing the grains to toast lightly and absorb that buttery flavor. Pour in 2 cups of water, sprinkle in salt, and bring it all to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover your saucepan, and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes. This gentle cooking allows the rice to become tender and fluffy. After this time has passed, remove it from heat and fold in grated parmesan cheese while seasoning with black pepper—this will create a creamy, cheesy delight that is simply irresistible.

Cook the Chicken Scampi: Now that your rice is set aside, it’s time to focus on the star of the dish—the chicken! Grab a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil along with 2 tablespoons of butter; watch as they melt together beautifully. Once hot, carefully add your bite-sized pieces of chicken breast to the skillet. Cook them for about 5-7 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through—use a spatula to turn them occasionally so each piece gets evenly caramelized. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate; don’t worry if there are tasty bits left behind—that’s flavor waiting to happen! In that same skillet, toss in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter along with minced garlic for an aromatic boost. Sauté for just 1 minute until fragrant before pouring in 1 cup of chicken broth and freshly squeezed lemon juice; watch as everything starts bubbling away into a delightful simmer. If you enjoy a little heat, sprinkle in red pepper flakes at this point.

Bring It All Together: With those lovely aromas filling your kitchen, it’s time to return the chicken to its flavorful broth bath! Gently add back the golden chicken pieces into the skillet and let everything simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes. This brief cooking time allows all those wonderful flavors to meld seamlessly—the fragrance alone will have everyone gathering around! Now comes the exciting moment: serve generous portions of your delectable chicken scampi over a bed of that creamy garlic parmesan rice you prepared earlier. For that finishing touch, garnish each plate with freshly chopped parsley; not only does this add a pop of color but also brightens up all those rich flavors beautifully.

Enjoy your meal!

Perfecting the Cooking Process

To achieve the best results with chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice, begin by preparing the rice first. While the rice simmers for 18-20 minutes, focus on cooking the chicken. Sear it in a hot skillet to lock in flavor, then finish the dish with the sauce and garnishes.

Ingredients for Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice

For this delicious recipe, gather 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces, 4 cloves of minced garlic, 1 cup of chicken broth, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter (divided), 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and optionally, 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. For garnish, you will need 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley. For the garlic parmesan rice, have on hand 1 cup of rinsed long-grain rice, 2 cups of water, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 cup of grated parmesan cheese, along with 1 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper.

Instructions for Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice

Start by preparing the garlic parmesan rice. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté 2 cloves of minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the rinsed rice and stir for an additional 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted. Pour in the water and add salt before bringing it to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and let it simmer for 18-20 minutes until cooked. Once done, remove from heat and mix in grated parmesan cheese while seasoning with black pepper; set aside.

Next, cook the chicken scampi. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, combine olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the chicken pieces and cook them until golden brown and fully cooked through—approximately 5-7 minutes—before removing them from the skillet and setting aside. In that same skillet, add the remaining butter along with minced garlic; sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and freshly squeezed lemon juice before bringing this mixture to a simmer. If desired, add red pepper flakes during this step.

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and allow it to simmer in the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes so that all flavors meld together beautifully. Serve your flavorful chicken scampi over a bed of creamy garlic parmesan rice and garnish it with chopped fresh parsley for an inviting presentation.

This straightforward method ensures you enjoy a comforting meal that combines savory chicken scampi with luscious garlic parmesan rice in just under forty minutes!

Add Your Touch

Feel free to customize your chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice by swapping chicken for shrimp or adding veggies like spinach or bell peppers. You can also experiment with seasonings, such as Italian herbs or a splash of white wine for added depth. Enjoy making it your own!

Storing & Reheating

To store chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice, refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. For reheating, warm in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or heat on the stove over medium heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.

FAQ

What is chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice?

Chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice is a flavorful dish featuring sautéed chicken served over creamy garlic parmesan rice.

How long does it take to prepare chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice?

The total time to prepare chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice is 40 minutes, including prep and cooking.

Can I customize the chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice recipe?

Yes, you can adjust ingredients like spices or add vegetables for added flavor and nutrition.

chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice

Print Recipe

A delightful dish featuring succulent chicken sautéed in a garlic butter sauce, served over creamy garlic parmesan rice.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword chicken, garlic, parmesan, rice, scampi

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 550

Ingredients

Chicken Scampi

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter divided
• 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes optional
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped for garnish

Garlic Parmesan Rice

• 1 cup long-grain rice rinsed
• 2 cups water
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

Prepare the Garlic Parmesan Rice

• In a medium saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add the rinsed rice and stir for 1-2 minutes until lightly toasted.
• Pour in the water, add salt, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice is cooked.
• Remove from heat, stir in grated parmesan cheese, and season with black pepper. Set aside.

Cook the Chicken Scampi

• In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.
• Add the chicken pieces and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add remaining butter and minced garlic. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, and bring to a simmer. Add red pepper flakes if using.
• Return the chicken to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
• Serve the chicken scampi over the garlic parmesan rice, garnished with chopped parsley.

Notes

For added flavor, you can marinate the chicken in lemon juice and garlic for 30 minutes before cooking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 800mg | Potassium: 600mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 2mg