This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure)
This creamy garlic chicken recipe might just become your new favorite dinner. Hear me out. Chicken with garlic sauce is a super flavorful and delicious meal that tastes like total comfort food – but of course, it’s healthy comfort food! My garlic butter chicken thighs are inspired by the Spanish pollo al ajillo, but I added cream, because in most situations, adding cream is always a good idea. These garlic chicken thighs are pan-seared and then it’s time to make the garlic cream sauce, which is a drool-worthy combination of butter, garlic (obviously!), white wine, and heavy cream. YUM!
If you follow my stories on Instagram, you know we returned from a trip to Spain recently. I took a cooking class there, and among other things, we made gambas al ajillo. They were delicious and so simple! Since I already had a Spanish garlic shrimp recipe here, I was inspired to make a version of creamy garlic chicken thighs using a similar method.
What Is Chicken With Garlic Sauce?
This easy garlic chicken recipe was inspired by the Spanish pollo al ajillo, but I made a creamy version, which makes all the better in my opinion. 😉
So the base of this meal is chicken and garlic – is there a better combination? NO! The chicken thighs are pan-fried and then topped with a creamy garlic sauce for chicken. It’s SO good!
How To Make Garlic Chicken
I’m going to walk you through the best garlic chicken thighs in butter. It’s an easy chicken recipe that looks kind of fancy, but is simple enough for weeknight meals.
Here’s how to make garlic chicken with white wine cream sauce:
- Season chicken. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Brown chicken. Melt the butter in a large skillet or saute pan and sear chicken without moving, on both sides, until browned and cooked through.
- Set aside chicken. Place chicken on a plate or platter and cover with foil.
- Saute the garlic. Slice the garlic super thinly and saute until it’s golden brown.
TIP: If you don’t want as strong of a garlic flavor that comes with sliced garlic, you can crush it with a mortar and pestle instead. It will cook much faster this way, so watch it closely.
- Make garlic cream sauce for chicken. Add broth and wine to pan, using a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom (aka de-glazing). Add the bay leaf and simmer the garlic chicken sauce until the volume is about half.
- Finish sauce with cream. Add cream into the sauce and heat for a few minutes – don’t let it boil. Remove the bay leaf, add chicken back into pan and serve!
TIP: If you’d like a non-creamy version or dairy-free version, you can use ghee and omit the cream. (Simmer time may need to be reduced so that you have enough sauce.)
How Many Calories In Chicken With Garlic Sauce?
There are 293 calories per serving of chicken and garlic sauce. And, 2 garlic butter chicken thighs have just 1 gram carbs and 29 grams protein!
How To Store Garlic Chicken Thighs
Chicken with garlic sauce should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Place chicken into the container and drizzle with any of the sauce.
Reheat just until hot in the microwave or oven.
How To Freeze Chicken With Garlic Sauce
This garlic chicken recipe can be frozen. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container or a freezer bag, removing as much as air as possible.
Remove from the refrigerator the night before serving, and heat until hot in the oven or the microwave.
What To Serve With Creamy Garlic Chicken
There are so many good serving options for these garlic chicken thighs… especially with keto vegetables like…
- Cauliflower Rice – One of the most versatile side dishes, there’s little that doesn’t work with cauliflower rice. Serve the chicken over top so that none of that creamy garlic chicken sauce goes to waste.
- Keto Mashed Cauliflower – When you’re after a major comfort food meal (that’s still healthy!), this is it.
- Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms – These rich and flavorful mushrooms hold their own with the garlic butter chicken thighs.
- Oven Roasted Asparagus – If you’re looking for something green, try this roasted asparagus, which can be easily baked while the chicken is cooking.
Tools To Make Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Pyrex Meal Prep Glass Containers – These glass containers make storing any leftover creamy garlic chicken easy to store and re-heat. Also perfect for meal prep.
- 8-Inch Chef’s Knife – This knife makes slicing all of that garlic for fresh garlic chicken easy work!
- Ceramic Nonstick Chef Pan – My favorite pans for just about any recipe, but especially this creamy garlic chicken recipe because it’s easy to scrape up all of the little bits of flavor.
More Low Carb Recipes To Love
RECIPE CARD
Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
Garlic butter chicken thighs make a perfect low carb chicken dinner! This creamy garlic chicken recipe is fancy enough for guests, but easy enough for weeknights.
Recipe Video
Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make this recipe!
PrintIngredients
Click underlined ingredients to buy them!
Please ensure Safari reader mode is OFF to view ingredients.
- 1 1/3 lb Boneless skinless chicken thighs (~8 medium)
- 1/2 tsp Sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Butter (divided)
- 1/2 head Garlic (peeled and sliced very thinly; ~6 cloves)
- 1/2 cup Chicken bone broth (or regular chicken broth)
- 1/2 cup White cooking wine
- 1/4 cup Heavy cream
- 1 medium Bay leaf
Instructions
RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Season the chicken on both sides with the salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
Heat 1 tablespoon (30 grams) butter in a large skillet or saute pan, over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 5 to 7 minutes per side, without moving, until browned and cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the pan, cover with foil and set aside.
Add the remaining tablespoon (30 grams) butter to the pan. Add the sliced garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until the garlic is fragrant and starting to brown.
Add the broth and wine to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom (this is called de-glazing).
Place the bay leaf into the pan and submerge. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 8-12 minutes, until the volume is reduced by half.
Add the cream to the pan. Heat for just a few minutes (do not boil).
Remove the bay leaf and add the chicken back to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
Readers Also Made These Keto Low Carb Recipes
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 chicken thighs with sauce, or 1/4 entire recipe
Video Showing How To Make Garlic Chicken:
Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Garlic Chicken!
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.
Did you make this recipe?
Click here to leave a comment + star rating! ★★★★★
Share a recipe pic with #wholesomeyum on Instagram or in our Facebook support group.
Join the Easy Keto Challenge to enter monthly giveaways every time you share your pics of my recipes!
Shop My Must-Have Keto Sweeteners
Use the buttons below to buy my new Besti keto sugar replacements, developed by Wholesome Yum!
Get the full low carb pantry shopping list, browse low carb product discounts, and visit my Amazon Shop!
21 Comments
Joe
This was incredible! We added chopped sun-dried tomatoes, extra cream and stock and topped a plate of cauliflower fettuccine. This is definitely a winner, thanks!
Winter Kelly
Amazingly delicious, yet quick & simple! I didn’t have a bay leaf so I substituted a pinch of dried thyme. The subtle smokiness & warmth that comes from combining the paprika with the garlic …pure delight. Melts in your mouth. I’m eager to make this again. My husband can add mushrooms in the future whereas I’ll stick to this exactly as written. Possibilities are endless!
Wendy
Hi. I’m wanting to make this for dinner but my husband doesn’t tolerate heavy cream in the evenings. Is there something else I can use?
Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Wendy, You could sub the heavy cream with coconut cream.
Heather
Hi! Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Heather, Yes, that is fine. Depending on the size of your chicken breasts, they may take a little longer to cook than the time listed in the recipe. Enjoy!
Amanda Counts
Ooh, we loved this one tonight! I minced the garlic instead of slicing and I used whatever wine was around. Other than that, cooked just as directed. Made this with the brussels sprouts au gratin recipe from your site.
Rachel Wright
There is no recipe card? I would love to make this but…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Rachel, The garlic chicken thighs recipe card is right above where you left your comment. 🙂 There’s also a “jump to recipe” button at the top.
Mary C Ekroos
Thanks for another great recipe! your ingredients sy 2 Tbsp butter, divided into: 1Tbsp, 1 Tbsp & 2 Tbsp, so does that make the total 4 Tbsp? instead of 2? Or should some of those Tbsp be teaspoons? Thanks Again for all your wonderful recipes and suggestions!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Mary, Sorry about that! It’s 2 tablespoons total, one for sauteing the chicken and one for the garlic later. I updated the recipe card to clarify. Thanks for noticing!
Monique
Can this be done in a slow cooker version?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Monique, I haven’t tried that but I think you’d need a pretty different recipe since the wine wouldn’t cook away the way it does on the stove top.
Robert
This recipe looks great. However, you ask to add the “broth”, and it even shows in the video. But there is none listed in the ingredients. From the picture it appears to be about 1 or 3/4 of a cup. But I am unsure.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
So sorry about that, Robert! The recipe card has been fixed.
Keri
Can this chicken be prepared without the cooking wine?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Keri, Is there a reason you are wanting to exclude it? The alcohol evaporates so it’s not an actual alcoholic dish.
Janice
The directions (#5) say add broth and wine to pan. Ingredients do not list broth. How much broth is used?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Janice, So sorry about that! I fixed it on the recipe card.
Keb
Can you use sherry instead of white wine?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Keb, Yes, you could do that! The flavor will be a bit different.