This Creamy Ranch Chicken is an ultimate comforting, flavor-saturated meal with succulent, seared chicken breasts all slathered up with a luxurious, velvety sauce of ranch seasoning. The sauce, a bath of cream of chicken soup, milk or sour cream and a little bit of onion powder, envelops the chicken in a warm hug, making it just right for spooning over mashed potatoes or over baked potatoes. Pair it with steamed vegetables of your choice for many incredible and enjoyable meal that will surely become a new family favorite!
This is my go-to dish on crazy weeknights because it’s quick, easy and tastes great. The ranch sauce is irresistibly good, and the chicken is juicy and tender, thanks to the initial sear. Prepared to serve up a dinner that will have everyone at the table clamoring for seconds? Let’s get started!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Speedy: Minimal prep and simple ingredients make this dish ideal for busy weeknights.
- Family Friendly: The creamy, tangy sauce is a hit with kids and adults.
- One-Pan Wonder: Everything in one skillet, clean-up is a dream!
- Ultimate Comfort Food: Serve it on top of mashed potatoes or baked potatoes for a delicious, comforting meal.
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Key Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Sliced thin to allow for even cooking and absorb the most flavor.
- Italian Seasoning: This blend of herbs imparts their earthy flavor to the chicken.
- Salt and Pepper: To taste; boosts the overall flavor of the meal.
- Butter and Olive Oil: For searing the chicken to golden-brown perfection.
For the Creamy Ranch Sauce:
- Cream of Chicken Soup: A key ingredient in the sauce that brings delicious creaminess and savory flavors.
- Milk: Dilutes the sauce to just the right consistency.
- Sour Cream: Provides tangy flavor that cuts the richness of the sauce.
- Salt and Onion Powder: Salt brings out flavors, while onion powder adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor.
- Ranch Seasoning Mix: The soul of the sauce, laying down classic ranch flavor.
Full ingredients list with amounts and instructions are in the recipe card below
Instructions for Creamy Ranch Chicken
Prepare and Sear the Chicken
First start by cutting one boneless, skinless chicken breast into 2-3 thinner slices, roughly ½ inch thick. This allows the chicken to cook more evenly and more quickly. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt and pepper on either side of each chicken piece.
Soften butter and brush one side of each piece. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken slices, butter side down, and sear for 4-5 minutes on each side or until nicely browned once oil is hot and shimmering. Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Pro tip: When searing the chicken, don’t crowd the skillet — sear in batches if necessary for even browning and a good crust to form.
Make the Creamy Ranch Sauce
Meanwhile, in the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and stir in the cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, onion powder and Ranch seasoning mix. You are going to whisk everything together until combined and smooth.
Bring the sauce to a gentle bubble, then lower the heat to low. Let it cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens a bit and all the flavors combine.
Pro Tip: If sauce is too thick, thin with a splash of milk. If it’s too thin, reduce it uncovered for another few minutes, until thickened.
Chicken Skillet Return the Chicken to the Skillet
Add the seared chicken slices back to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Drizzle some of the sauce over each piece so they are all well coated. Partially cover the skillet with a lid, and let the chicken simmer in the sauce for about 10 minutes, blooming the flavors and warming the chicken through.
Serve
Take the skillet off heat and allow it to rest a few minutes before serving. Serve the creamy ranch chicken over mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or your favorite veggies. Use more sauce over the chicken and sides, if you want!
Tips for Success
Cut the Chicken Even: Slicing a chicken breast in half creates two thinner pieces of chicken which helps the chicken cook evenly and soak up more flavor.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: So long as we’re on the subject, don’t crowd the pan when you’re searing the chicken, which will inhibit its browning (or place a second batch in the oven to cook at the same time).
Adjust Sauce Consistency: If your sauce is too thick, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to get it to your desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
Creamy Ranch Chicken is great with many different sides. Here are some ways to round out your meal:
Mashed Potatoes: Serve the chicken and sauce on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes, for a cozy dinner.
Baked Potatoes: This a great option if you serve over baked potatoes.
Steamed Vegetables: Serve with steamed broccoli, green beans, or carrots for a balanced meal.
Rice: Serve the chicken and sauce over rice — fluffy white or brown — for a winning combo.
Crusty Bread: Serve with some crusty bread or buttered garlic bread to soak up all of the creamy sauce.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Refrigerate: Place any leftover in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freezer: You can freeze the cooked chicken and sauce individually in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before warming.
To reheat: In a skillet set over medium heat, stirring occasionally, heat until warmed through. And if the sauce has seized up too firm, add a splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen it.
Variations and Modifications
Add Vegetables: Add some steamed broccoli, or sautéed mushrooms to the sauce for added nutrition and taste.
For a Spicier Sauce: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the sauce.
Herb-Flavored: Stir in some chopped fresh herbs — parsley, chives, for example — for a fresh, herby note.
Dairy-Free Option: Swap out the milk and sour cream for coconut milk or a dairy-free cream alternative for a lighter, dairy-free sauce.
Final Thoughts
This is a Fast and Easy recipe for Creamy Ranch Chicken that packs a great deal of flavor and comfort. This juicy, seared chicken with the rich, creamy ranch sauce is a match made in heaven. Serve it for a cozy family dinner or a weeknight meal, and you’ll have everyone clamoring for seconds!
Now go and enjoy every ranchy, cream-filled bite! 🍗❤️
Ranch Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- to taste salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 2 tbsp olive oil or substitute vegetable or canola oil
- 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cup sour cream at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 oz Ranch seasoning mix about 3 tablespoons
Instructions
- Slice each boneless, skinless chicken breast into 2-3 thinner slices, about ½ inch thick. Use a meat tenderizer to pound the slices to an even thickness if needed. Season each side of the chicken slices with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Brush one side of each piece with melted butter. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken slices to the skillet, buttered side down.
- Sauté for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until a golden-brown crust has formed. Transfer the seared chicken to a plate and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken slices, adding more oil if needed.
- In the same skillet, remove any excess oil, leaving behind about 1 tablespoon. Reduce heat to medium and add the cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, onion powder, and Ranch seasoning mix.
- Whisk until everything is well combined and smooth. Let the sauce come to a gentle bubble, then reduce heat to low. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Return the seared chicken slices to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy sauce. Spoon some sauce over each piece to ensure they’re fully coated. Partially cover with a lid and let the chicken simmer in the sauce for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Spoon the creamy ranch sauce over the chicken and serve with mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, or steamed vegetables.