One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken

Name: One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil (split in two); 1 1/2 pounds boneless & skinless chicken thighs; 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 3/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 yellow onion (diced); 1/3 cup bone broth or chicken broth; 7 ounces sun dried tomatoes, in olive oil (drained, SEE NOTES); 8 garlic cloves (minced); 15 ounces canned coconut milk; 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 4 cups spinach (lightly packed); 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; kosher salt (to taste); black pepper (to taste)

Modified: Mar 7, 2025 by Matt Fay · Published: Dec 30, 2019 · 70 Comments

This one pan creamy garlic chicken recipe is going to become your new favorite quick and easy meal. It comes together in under 30 minutes and is made with creamy coconut milk, fresh garlic, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach. It is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, low carb, and Whole30.

two bowls of creamy chicken with forks on the side and topped off with lemon and parsley

Why is this creamy garlic chicken so great?

It can all be made in just one pan. Less clean up and fuss!
The whole dish will be ready in under 30 minutes.
Italian meets Thai flavors... so darn delicious. That creamy garlic sauce is so good.
This dish will fill you up. It's very hearty and comforting.
It is gluten free, dairy free, paleo, low carb, and Whole30!

I love making this dish for a quick weeknight meal or when we have a few people over because it'll easily serve up to 6 people if you are serving it on top of a bed of cauliflower rice, white rice, etc.

It's also wonderful reheated throughout the week and makes the perfect dish for meal planning and meal prep.

creamy garlic chicken in a big pan topped off with parsley

What's inside of this one pan creamy chicken?

Chicken thighs
Onions
Garlic
Sun dried tomatoes
Canned coconut milk
Nutritional yeast
Italian seasoning
Bone broth
Spinach

It's that simple. You aren't going to need a long ingredient list or a ton of time to make this dish, which is why it has become such a huge staple at our house.

a bowl of creamy garlic chicken with forks on the side and parsley as garnish

What goes well with creamy garlic chicken?

I'd recommend trying a variety of things. My favorite way to eat it simply with rice or cauliflower rice. The garlic cream sauce of this dish mixes really well with rice.

However, I've also had it with the Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi and it is wonderful.

You can also serve it with:

Brown rice or quinoa
Zucchini or sweet potato noodles/ribbons
Rice pasta
Chickpea pasta
Broccoli rice
Mashed potatoes
By itself- it'll give you thick stew vibes

creamy garlic chicken in a pan with lemons sliced on top

Recipe notes and questions

Coconut oil can be used in place of grass-fed butter or ghee.
Drain the sun-dried tomatoes from the oil but save 1 tablespoon to cook with the dish.
If you'd like to use shrimp instead of chicken, my recipe for that dish is here.

How long can leftovers be stored in the refrigerator?

It will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight storage container.

How to I heat up the leftovers?

You can reheat in a sauce pan with low heat to medium heat, or simply microwave them.

Can I add any other vegetables?

Absolutely! You can add green beans (chopped into 1" lengths). You might need to par-boil these before adding them to the pan. Maybe opt for diced zucchini or finely diced bell peppers instead! I love veggies and tend to use what I have on hand when I can.

Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs?

You can, but it won't be as juicy and succulent.

Can half & half be substituted for the coconut milk?

Absolutely. If you don't have a problem with dairy, that is a fine substitution. Heavy cream would work too.

ingredients in bowls to make creamy garlic chicken

How to make one pan creamy garlic chicken

Cut chicken thighs into 1 - 1 ½" bite-size chunks. Transfer to a large bowl. Add arrowroot, salt, and pepper. Give everything a nice stir and be sure it is evenly coated. Set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add chicken to the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes for a quick sear on each side until golden brown but not completely cooked through. Do so in a single layer (make sure you do not crowd the pan. You may need to cook in batches!) Transfer to a bowl or plate with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the diced onion to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add 1 tablespoon of oil from the sun dried tomatoes and minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often. Add chicken stock / broth to the pan, scraping from the bottom of the pan and stirring frequently. Cook until broth has reduced down by at least 50%.

Add sun dried tomatoes to the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes until quite fragrant and well combined, stirring occasionally.

Add coconut milk and nutritional yeast to the pan. Once the coconut milk has reached a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low. Add spinach to the pan and stir until slightly wilted, about 1 minute.

Add the cooked chicken back into the pan and sprinkle with seasoning. Stir frequently for another 7-10 minutes, letting all of the flavors marinade and allowing the chicken to cook all the way through. Season with additional salt and pepper if necessary.

Top off with fresh lemon wedges and chopped parsley.

creamy garlic chicken with white rice in a bowl topped off with lemon

More one pan recipes you'll love:

One Pan Creamy Garlic Shrimp

Vegan Thai Curry

Pan Seared Scallops

One Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken

Best Paleo One Pan Breakfast

One Pan Shrimp Fajitas