This Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is a flavorful, one-pan dish featuring tender chicken strips in a creamy parmesan sauce with tangy pepperoncini peppers and roasted red peppers. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or vegetables. The balance of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors makes it a family favorite.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 pounds chicken, cut into strips

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 1 teaspoon ground pepper

• 1 white onion, diced

• 2 tablespoons garlic, diced

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded

• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

• 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, drained

Directions

1. Sear the chicken: Melt butter in a large heavy pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and brown for about 8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.

2. Cook the aromatics: In the same pan, cook the garlic and onion until golden brown, about 5 minutes.

3. Build the sauce: Add the chicken stock and roasted red peppers to the pan. Let it simmer and reduce by half for about 5 minutes.

4. Add cream and parmesan: Turn off the heat, then whisk in the heavy cream and parmesan cheese to create a smooth sauce.

5. Finish the dish: Return the chicken to the pan, add Italian seasoning, pepperoncini peppers, and stir. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

6. Serve: Enjoy the creamy pepperoncini chicken over rice, pasta, or vegetables.

Nutrients

• Calories: 565 kcal per serving

• Total Fat: 41 g

• Carbohydrates: 8 g

• Protein: 41 g

Why Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet Works

This dish is beloved for its combination of flavors and ease of preparation. The creamy parmesan sauce provides a comforting, velvety base, while the tang of the pepperoncini peppers and the sweetness of roasted red peppers elevate the dish to something truly special. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity—everything is made in one pan, and the ingredients work together to create a flavorful sauce that coats the chicken and brings it all together.

The chicken is seared to perfection, ensuring that each bite is juicy and tender. The garlic and onion add an aromatic base, while the roasted red peppers bring a depth of sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the tangy pepperoncini peppers. Whether you’re feeding a family or cooking for yourself, this dish is quick, hearty, and packed with flavor.

The Perfect Balance of Creamy, Tangy, and Savory

One of the key reasons this dish is so satisfying is the balance of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors. The creamy sauce made with heavy cream and parmesan cheese envelops the chicken, making each bite rich and indulgent. At the same time, the pepperoncini peppers add a delightful tang that cuts through the richness, while the roasted red peppers provide a sweet contrast. The combination of the creaminess and the tanginess is the perfect harmony of flavors, making this dish incredibly satisfying.

The parmesan cheese contributes a nutty, salty undertone, while the chicken stock and Italian seasoning round out the flavors with savory depth. This combination of flavors works seamlessly together, creating a dish that’s more than just a simple creamy chicken recipe—it’s a flavor-packed experience.

The Chicken: The Foundation of the Dish

Chicken serves as the foundation of this skillet meal, and it’s crucial that the chicken is cooked just right. For this recipe, you’ll cut the chicken into strips, which helps the meat cook quickly and evenly. Searing the chicken first creates a delicious golden-brown crust on the outside, locking in juices and adding a savory, caramelized flavor.

Once the chicken is seared and removed from the pan, it’s set aside to rest, allowing the aromatics and the sauce to develop. The chicken is returned to the pan later, ensuring it finishes cooking in the flavorful sauce, which helps the meat stay tender and juicy. The result is perfectly cooked chicken, infused with all the rich and savory flavors from the sauce.

The Sauce: Creamy Parmesan with Pepperoncini Zing

The sauce is the star of this dish, and it couldn’t be simpler to make. After cooking the chicken, you use the same pan to sauté garlic and onion, which helps to deglaze the pan and pick up any fond left from searing the chicken. The addition of chicken stock helps to create a flavorful base, while the roasted red peppers contribute sweetness and complexity.

Once the chicken stock has reduced, the cream and parmesan are added, creating a rich, velvety sauce that’s perfect for coating the chicken. The parmesan adds a savory depth to the sauce, while the cream makes it smooth and indulgent. The combination of these ingredients results in a sauce that’s creamy yet light enough to let the tangy pepperoncini peppers shine through.

The pepperoncini peppers add a zesty, slightly spicy kick that balances the richness of the cream and cheese, giving the dish its signature tang. These peppers also offer a bit of crunch, which provides a delightful textural contrast to the smooth sauce. The result is a flavorful, creamy sauce that’s both indulgent and lively.

Finishing the Dish: A One-Pan Wonder

One of the greatest things about the Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is that it’s all made in one pan. After making the sauce, the chicken is returned to the pan along with the pepperoncini peppers and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together and let it simmer until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, ensuring that the chicken is fully cooked and has absorbed all the flavors of the sauce.

This method of cooking allows the chicken to soak up the creamy sauce and finish cooking in the pan, creating a dish that’s full of flavor and textures that complement each other perfectly. Once everything is well-combined, the dish is ready to be served, and the beauty of its simplicity shines through.

Serving Suggestions: Versatile Pairings

The Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is incredibly versatile and pairs wonderfully with many different sides. For a classic pairing, serve the dish over rice, which will soak up the creamy sauce and make every bite more satisfying. Pasta is another great option, especially if you prefer a comforting carb to go with the creamy sauce. For a lighter option, try serving the dish with roasted vegetables or steamed broccoli, which will balance the richness of the sauce with freshness and texture.

You could also serve this dish with a simple green salad to add some crunch and freshness to the meal. The tangy pepperoncini peppers and the creamy sauce complement leafy greens beautifully, making it an ideal addition to the plate.

Nutritional Breakdown

The Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is not only delicious but also provides a good balance of macronutrients. Each serving contains approximately 565 calories, with 41g of fat, 8g of carbohydrates, and 41g of protein. The high protein content comes from the chicken, which is an excellent source of lean protein, while the fat is mainly from the butter and cream, making the dish rich and satisfying.

This dish is relatively low in carbohydrates, making it a great option for those on low-carb or keto diets. The fiber content is not very high, but the roasted red peppers and the pepperoncini peppers provide some dietary fiber, as well as vitamins and antioxidants. The sodium content will vary based on the seasoning used, but it’s important to adjust the salt based on your preferences to keep the sodium level in check.

Conclusion: A Quick and Flavorful Family Favorite

In conclusion, the Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is the perfect weeknight meal that’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor. The creamy parmesan sauce, combined with the tangy pepperoncini peppers, roasted red peppers, and tender chicken, makes for a satisfying and delicious dish that everyone will love. Whether you’re looking for a meal to serve to your family or just a comforting dinner for yourself, this dish checks all the boxes. It’s flavorful, indulgent, and versatile, making it a go-to recipe for any occasion. With its simple ingredients and quick preparation, the Easy Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is sure to become a family favorite in no time.