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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
More one pan recipes you'll love:
One Pan Honey Balsamic Chicken
One Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 ½ tablespoons avocado oil split in two
- 1 ½ pounds boneless & skinless chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 yellow onion diced
- ⅓ 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
Instructions
- Cut chicken thighs into 1 - 1 ½" bite-size chunks. Transfer to a large bowl. Add half of the avocado oil, arrowroot, salt, and pepper. Give everything a nice stir and be sure it is evenly coated. Set aside.
- Heat up a large skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes and add the oil. Let that heat through for another minute. Add chicken to the pan, and cook for 4-5 minutes 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 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 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.
Notes
- 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.
Beth says
I don’t have Avacado oil. If I use EVVO, would be in equal amounts?
Yep!!!!!
Erica H says
Very yummy. I highly recommend using the lemon tomsqueeze over the final dish. I have to eat Paleo for thyroid reasons and thought I would miss the dairy in this type of recipe but it was great. I recommend putting this over cauliflower rice if you miss rice/pasta.
YESSSS to fresh lemon on top. I love that idea!
Lindsay says
So delicious and flavourful, and incredibly easy to make!! While I was cooking, my husband asked if this was a recipe from my “special diet” and did not seem too excited. He was very humble as he ate though, because we both found it to be absolutely amazing!! A keeper!!
Missy | Life Around The Table says
This was so good!!! I served it over cauliflower gnocchi that was cooked in the air fryer! Definitely will be making this again and again!
Love me some cauliflower gnocchi... you gotta try my chicken and cauliflower gnocchi soup next!
Deanna says
Since I'm on an autoimmune protocol I cannot have tomatoes - if I omit, do I need to use more of another oil since you have some of the reserved oil from that in the recipe?
Yes, I'm not sure what I'd do instead to be honest. You could try using a few tablespoons of oil but the sun dried tomatoes provide so much flavor.... hmm. What do you usually use in place of tomatoes, carrots?
Sierra says
How many servings does this recipe yield?
Hmm, I'd say 4-6.
Rachel Ammon says
Do you have the nutritional info for this recipe?
I just posted it for you! Sorry about that.
Jill says
Do you use sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk? I have an allergy to the nutritional yeast and am curious if there anything that can be substituted that is dairy free?
Unsweetened coconut milk. From a can... full fat! You can skip it altogether 🙂
Skip the nutritional yeast, I mean... not the coconut milk 🙂
Miranda says
The best thing I have made I'm awhile and it was so simple to make! My slow-eating SO devoured it.
DANIELLE says
I have made this recipe several time, it's amazing. I have also added string beans in it instead of spinach and it was just as delicious.
Oh I love the idea of adding string beans- I'll need to try it this way!!!!
Janine Grossman says
What can I substitute for the coconut milk. I am not a fan of coconut flavor in my food 🙁
I don't think you can taste the coconut, but you can use half and half if you can have dairy.
Janine says
I can not find arrowroot flower. Can I use almond flour?
No, it's a thickening agent and for crispness on the chicken. You can use tapioca flour!
Heidi says
Could you replace the unsweetened coconut milk with unsweetened almond milk?
So, the coconut milk is great because it's fatty and thick. You can try almond but it won't be as thick.
Jennifer says
This was SO delicious! My 4 year old said "Mama, this dinner is really good" and that is rare for him to say! My whole family really liked it. The only thing I'd try different next time is crisping up the chicken a little more. But the flavor was awesome. I served it with gluten free pasta and it was great!