Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice – Weeknight Dinner Made Fancy!
If you love buttery garlic flavors with a punch of Parmesan, this Chicken Scampi will blow your taste buds away! Inspired by restaurant flavors but made at home, it features golden sautéed chicken over a bed of creamy garlic rice, finished with zesty lemon and herbs.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Scampi:
- 1½ lbs boneless chicken breasts or tenders
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
For Garlic Parmesan Rice:
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup long grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Optional: splash of cream for richness
Instructions
- Cook the Rice: In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add rice, stir for 1–2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until tender. Stir in Parmesan and season with salt. Add a splash of cream if desired.
- Sauté the Chicken: While rice cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a skillet. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and cook 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
- Add Garlic and Lemon: Push chicken to one side, add minced garlic to the other. Sauté for 1 minute, then stir in lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Toss chicken in the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley and Parmesan.
- Assemble: Spoon the garlic Parmesan rice onto plates, top with chicken, and drizzle extra pan sauce over everything.
Nutrition Facts (per serving – serves 4):
| Calories | 490 |
| Protein | 38g |
| Carbs | 32g |
| Fat | 24g |
| Sodium | 560mg |
Printable Summary
| Chicken Scampi with Garlic Parmesan Rice | |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 25 minutes |
| Total Time | 35 minutes |
| Servings | 4 |
FAQs
Q: Can I use brown rice instead?
Yes, just adjust cooking time and liquid as brown rice takes longer.
Q: What’s a good veggie to serve with this?
Steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus pair beautifully.
Q: Can I add shrimp instead of chicken?
Absolutely! Shrimp scampi works perfectly with this same rice.
