Description
Indulgent chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice delivers Italian coastal flavors in a comforting home-cooked meal. Fresh ingredients and simple techniques combine to create a delightful dinner perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) white wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Rice Ingredients:
- 1 cup (190 grams) long-grain white rice
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare chicken strips by generously seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring even coating.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken strips into hot skillet, cooking for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate, keeping warm.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 30-45 seconds until aromatic and lightly golden.
- Deglaze pan by pouring chicken broth, lemon juice, and white wine, scraping bottom to release flavorful browned bits.
- Allow liquid to simmer and reduce by one-third, creating a concentrated sauce, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate cold butter, whisking continuously until sauce becomes smooth and slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to skillet, gently coating each piece with the luxurious sauce.
- For rice, combine rice, chicken broth, and minced garlic in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 18 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.
- Remove rice from heat, fold in grated Parmesan cheese until evenly distributed.
- Season rice with salt and pepper, adjusting to personal taste preference.
- Plate garlic Parmesan rice, top with sauced chicken, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Elevate chicken flavor by marinating strips in garlic, lemon zest, and herbs for 30 minutes before cooking for deeper taste profiles.
- Create gluten-free version by replacing white wine with additional chicken broth and using cornstarch instead of traditional flour for thickening sauce.
- Customize protein options by substituting chicken with shrimp, tofu, or white fish while maintaining identical cooking techniques and sauce preparation.
- Reduce calorie content by using Greek yogurt instead of butter and choosing low-sodium chicken broth for a lighter, healthier meal variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg