Are you stuck in a chicken dinner rut? Get ready for a flavor explosion that will shake up your weeknight routine! This Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken is here to save the day. Imagine tender, pan seared chicken smothered in a luxuriously creamy Parmesan sauce, but with a brilliant tangy and slightly spicy kick from pepperoncini peppers. It’s rich, zesty, and incredibly addictive; all made in one skillet in about 20 minutes. This is the kind of easy, gourmet tasting meal that will have everyone asking, “What’s your secret?”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Blazing Fast: Ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish, making it perfect for busy nights.
- The Perfect Flavor Combo: The creamy, cheesy sauce balanced with the tangy, spicy pepperoncini is a match made in heaven.
- One Skillet Wonder: Less cleanup means more time to relax and enjoy your delicious dinner.
- Surprisingly Simple: It looks and tastes fancy, but it’s made with simple, easy to find ingredients.
Ingredients for Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (adjust to your spice preference)
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon pepperoncini brine (the juice from the jar!)
- ½ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions for Making Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken
1Season and Sear the Chicken: Start by patting the chicken cubes dry with a paper towel; this helps them get a beautiful golden sear. Season them all over with the salt and black pepper.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until it’s golden brown on the outside and cooked through. Remove the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
2Build the Flavorful Sauce Base: In the same skillet, add the chopped onion. Cook for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for just one more minute until fragrant; be careful not to burn it!
Pour in the chicken broth, and add the dried oregano and crushed red pepper. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to get all those delicious browned bits mixed in. Let this simmer for about 2 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by about half.
3Create the Creamy, Zesty Sauce: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream, grated Parmesan cheese, and the secret ingredient; the teaspoon of pepperoncini brine. This brine is the key to that incredible tangy flavor!
Whisk the sauce and let it simmer gently for about 3-5 minutes, until it thickens slightly and becomes smooth.
4Bring It All Together: Return the cooked chicken (and any juices from the plate) back to the skillet. Add the sliced pepperoncini peppers. Stir everything together until the chicken is heated through and beautifully coated in the creamy sauce.
5Serve and Enjoy! Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. Serve immediately, garnished with a generous sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. This is fantastic over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or with a big piece of crusty bread to soak up every last drop of the amazing sauce.
Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon pepperoncini brine
- ½ cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until golden and cooked through (5-7 mins). Remove to a plate.
- Add onion to skillet; cook 2 mins. Add garlic; cook 1 min until fragrant.
- Add broth, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Simmer 2 mins until reduced by half.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream, Parmesan, and pepperoncini brine. Simmer 3-5 mins until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to skillet. Add sliced pepperoncini. Stir to coat and heat through.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Notes
- Pepperoncini Brine is Key: Don't skip the teaspoon of juice from the pepperoncini jar! It adds the signature tangy flavor that makes this dish so special.
- Control the Heat: For a milder dish, use less crushed red pepper. For more heat, add more or include a few spicy pepperoncini slices.
- Serving Suggestions: This is delicious served over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or cauliflower rice.
