I'm going to let you in on a little secret about this Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice... the chicken is amazing, but the rice is the real hero of this story. For years, I made scampi with pasta, and it was... fine. The noodles always got slippery! This chicken scampi with rice is a total game-changer. The fluffy parmesan rice acts like a perfect little sponge, soaking up every single drop of that incredible garlic butter sauce.
Juicy, pan-seared chicken tenders seasoned to perfection and served over a, creamy garlic Parmesan rice creates an elegant one-pan meal. Chicken scampi over perfectly cooked buttery, garlic parmesan rice brings together classic Italian flavors in a dish that's ready in about 30 minutes. This is comfort food that feels like a celebration.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Ingredients for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- How to Make Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- My Top Tips for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Making Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice with My Family
- Substitutions for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Variations on Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Equipment for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Storage Tips for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Adam's Tip for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- FAQ about Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Conclusion
- Related
- Pairing
- recipe
Why You'll Love This Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Restaurant-quality at home: This easy chicken scampi with parmesan rice rivals any Italian restaurant but costs a fraction of the price.
- Rich and flavorful: The white wine reduction and buttery garlic sauce create layers of sophisticated flavor that coat both the chicken and rice.
- One-pan wonder: Everything comes together in one skillet, making cleanup easy while the flavors blend beautifully.
Ingredients for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
This creamy chicken scampi with parmesan rice uses fresh minced garlic and a chicken broth base to create creamy garlic Parmesan rice that's incredibly satisfying. The pan-seared chicken tenders cook quickly and stay juicy, making this chicken scampi with parmesan rice and garlic perfect for busy weeknights.
What You'll Need
For the Chicken:
- 1.5 pounds chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts (cut into strips)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Scampi Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Garlic Parmesan Rice:
- 1.5 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra Parmesan cheese
- Lemon wedges
Why These Ingredients Matter
- Long-grain white rice: This type of rice stays fluffy and doesn't get mushy, creating the perfect base for the creamy garlic Parmesan rice.
- Fresh minced garlic: Using fresh garlic in both the chicken and rice creates layers of garlic flavor that define this dish.
- White wine reduction: The wine adds acidity and depth to the buttery garlic sauce, though you can substitute chicken broth if preferred.
How to Make Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
Step-by-Step Directions
- Start with the rice: In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
- Add the uncooked rice and stir to coat with the garlic butter for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes.
- While the rice cooks, season chicken tenderloins with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken tenders and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add 4 tablespoons butter and minced garlic, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the white wine and let it reduce by half, about 2 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and coat with the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Once the rice is done, remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and heavy cream until creamy.
- Serve the chicken scampi over perfectly cooked buttery, garlic parmesan rice with extra Parmesan and lemon wedges.
Hint: For chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice weight watchers recipe, use cooking spray instead of butter, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream, and reduce the Parmesan to ½ cup.
My Top Tips for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
Don't skip the step of reducing the white wine. This concentrates the flavors and removes the harsh alcohol taste, leaving behind a rich, tangy base for your buttery garlic sauce. Also, add the Parmesan and cream to the rice off the heat to prevent the cheese from becoming grainy. The result is perfectly creamy garlic Parmesan rice that's restaurant-quality. This technique is similar to what we use with our pineapple chicken and rice, where proper timing makes all the difference.
Making Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice with My Family
Last Sunday, Adam helped me make this chicken scampi with creamy garlic rice for a special family dinner. He was in charge of grating the Parmesan cheese and kept asking, "Is this enough yet?" I showed him how much we needed and he said, "That's a LOT of cheese. This is going to be so good."
When we sat down to eat, Adam tried the chicken and rice together and his eyes got wide. "Mom, this tastes like the fancy restaurant we went to for Grandma's birthday!" Grandma Viola, who was our dinner guest, tried some and said, "Make chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice. Cook chicken, sauté garlic perfectly, and you have a dish that's absolutely divine. This is restaurant-quality."
Substitutions for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Protein: Use shrimp instead of chicken for traditional scampi, or try pork medallions for a different twist.
- Wine: Replace white wine with additional chicken broth plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice for a non-alcoholic version.
- Rice: Try orzo, risotto, or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb chicken scampi with creamy garlic rice option.
- Dairy: Use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter sauce.
Variations on Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Olive Garden style: Make chicken scampi olive garden inspired by adding sun-dried tomatoes and extra garlic to the sauce.
- Pioneer Woman style: Try chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice pioneer woman inspired by adding mushrooms and fresh herbs.
- Jamie Oliver style: Create jamie oliver chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice by adding capers and extra lemon zest. Check out this chicken scampi recipe for more inspiration.
Equipment for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Large skillet: A 12-inch skillet works best for cooking the chicken and making the sauce with plenty of room.
- Medium saucepan with lid: For cooking the rice separately to perfection.
- Garlic press or microplane: Makes mincing garlic quick and easy for the fresh minced garlic needed.
- Wooden spoon: For stirring the rice and scraping up the flavorful bits from the pan.
Storage Tips for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
- Refrigerator: Store chicken and rice separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days. The rice may absorb some sauce, so add a splash of broth when reheating.
- Freezer: Freeze the chicken in sauce for up to 2 months. The rice doesn't freeze as well due to the cream, so make it fresh.
- Reheating: Warm gently in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of chicken broth or white wine to refresh the sauce.
This quicker recipes chicken scampi with parmesan rice is perfect for sunday dinner meal ideas and restaurant quality recipes dinners. The creamy garlic Parmesan rice paired with pan-seared chicken tenders makes it ideal for best chicken dinner nights. It pairs beautifully with our lemon grilled salmon when you want variety in your weekly good recipes for dinner.
Adam's Tip for Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
"Make sure you get sauce on every bite of rice. That's what makes it so creamy and good. Also, the chicken tastes better if you squeeze extra lemon on it right before you eat it."
FAQ about Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
What to eat with chicken scampi?
Chicken scampi pairs wonderfully with garlic bread, Caesar salad, roasted asparagus, or steamed broccoli. For this chicken scampi with parmesan rice recipe, the rice is already included, so you just need a simple green vegetable or salad. Sautéed spinach with garlic, green beans almondine, or a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette all complement the buttery garlic sauce perfectly. A glass of the same white wine you used in the sauce is the perfect beverage pairing.
Can you have shrimp scampi with rice?
Yes! Shrimp scampi with rice is delicious and traditional. While scampi is often served over pasta, serving it over creamy garlic Parmesan rice is equally wonderful. The buttery garlic sauce soaks into the rice beautifully. You can use this same chicken scampi with garlic parmesan rice recipe but substitute 1.5 pounds of large shrimp for the chicken, cooking them for just 2 to 3 minutes per side until pink.
Can raw chicken and rice be cooked together?
Yes, but it requires careful timing. For this chicken scampi with parmesan rice and garlic recipe, we cook them separately to ensure perfect texture for both. However, you can make a one-pot version by searing the chicken first, removing it, cooking the rice in the chicken broth base with the garlic, then returning the chicken to finish cooking together. The key is ensuring the chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
What is chicken scampi sauce made of?
Chicken scampi sauce is made of butter, garlic, white wine, chicken broth, lemon juice, and often red pepper flakes. The white wine reduction creates depth, while the butter makes it rich and glossy. Some versions add heavy cream for extra richness. The buttery garlic sauce in this recipe uses a classic combination that creates the signature scampi flavor. Chopped fresh parsley garnish adds freshness and color to finish the dish.
Conclusion
I promise you, once you try scampi this way, you'll never go back to pasta. Here's to the fluffy, cheesy rice that catches all that liquid gold and makes sure you don't miss a single, delicious drop. This Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice with its creamy garlic Parmesan rice and buttery garlic sauce is pure perfection.
This easy chicken scampi with parmesan rice is perfect for sunday dinner meal ideas and restaurant quality recipes dinners. Whether you make it as chicken scampi with creamy garlic rice or try the variations, it's always a winner. If you're looking for more best chicken dinner ideas, try our sweet Hawaiian crockpot chicken or smashburger quesadillas. Let me know how your chicken scampi turns out! Enjoy.
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Pairing
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recipe
Easy Chicken Scampi with Parmesan Rice
Equipment
- 1 Large skillet (12 inch) Wide enough to sear chicken and simmer sauce evenly
- 1 Medium saucepan with lid For cooking fluffy garlic Parmesan rice
- 1 Wooden spoon Gentle on pans and perfect for little helpers
- 1 Garlic press or microplane Makes mincing garlic fast and kid friendly
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts Cut into strips
- 1 teaspoon salt To taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 cloves garlic Minced
- ½ cup dry white wine Or chicken broth
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 lemon Juiced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley Chopped
- 1.5 cups long grain white rice
- 2.5 cups chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic Minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the rice and toast for 1 minute.
- Pour in the chicken broth, bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15–18 minutes until tender.
- Season chicken with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet. Sear chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Pour in white wine and reduce by half. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes. Simmer until glossy.
- Return chicken to skillet and spoon sauce over. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Remove rice from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese and heavy cream.
- Serve chicken over Parmesan rice. Garnish with extra cheese or lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half and half instead of heavy cream.
- Shrimp can be substituted for chicken. Cook shrimp 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
- This recipe is extra special served with a simple green salad and garlic bread.
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