Description
Succulent low carb chicken broccoli skillet delivers a quick, nutritious meal perfect for busy weeknights. Protein-packed chicken and crisp broccoli combine with savory seasonings, ensuring you’ll enjoy a satisfying, health-conscious dinner in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Season chicken thoroughly with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Sear Protein: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then cook chicken until golden-brown and fully cooked, approximately 5-7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- Vegetable Preparation: In the same skillet, sauté broccoli florets until vibrant and tender-crisp, then transfer to a separate plate.
- Sauce Foundation: Reduce skillet heat to medium, add butter, and introduce minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the cooking surface.
- Cream Fusion: Whisk heavy cream, mozzarella, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning into a luxurious sauce, simmering until it thickens and develops a rich consistency.
- Flavor Enhancement: Brighten the sauce with a splash of lemon juice, stirring to integrate citrusy undertones.
- Final Assembly: Reunite chicken and broccoli with the velvety sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete coating and flavor integration.
- Garnish and Serve: Scatter fresh parsley and additional Parmesan across the skillet, and serve immediately with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a complete low-carb meal.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Browning: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure maximum crispiness and achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without excess moisture.
- Balance Cream Sauce Consistency: Slowly add heavy cream while stirring constantly to prevent sauce from separating or becoming grainy, maintaining smooth texture.
- Prevent Overcooking Broccoli: Sauté broccoli quickly on high heat to retain vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture, avoiding mushy vegetable syndrome.
- Customize Low-Carb Options: Swap heavy cream with coconut cream for dairy-free version or use cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice to keep carbohydrate content minimal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 40g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 150mg