Description
This Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet is a luscious and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken strips simmered in a rich, tangy cream sauce with garlic, roasted red peppers, and spicy pepperoncini. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, this skillet recipe combines buttery sauteed chicken with a vibrant Italian-inspired sauce, ready in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs chicken, cut into thin strips
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 white onion, diced
- 2 tbsp garlic, diced
- ½ cup roasted red pepper, drained and sliced
- ½ cup pepperoncini peppers, drained (sliced, ring, or whole)
Liquids and Cheese
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large, heavy pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Season the chicken strips with sea salt and ground pepper, then add them to the pan. Brown the chicken on all sides by turning every couple of minutes, about 8 minutes total. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. It may not be fully cooked to 165°F at this stage, which is okay.
- Cook the Aromatics: Add the diced garlic and onion to the pan with the residual butter and chicken juices. Let them brown slightly, approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.
- Add Stock and Roasted Red Peppers: Pour in the chicken stock and add the drained roasted red peppers. Allow the mixture to simmer and reduce by half, about 5 minutes. This concentrates the flavors for the sauce.
- Incorporate Cream and Parmesan: Turn off the heat, then slowly stir in the heavy cream and shredded parmesan cheese. Whisk vigorously as you add the cream to fully combine and create a creamy sauce.
- Finish the Sauce and Cook Chicken: Return the heat to medium-high. Add the Italian seasoning, pepperoncini peppers, and the browned chicken back into the pan. Let the sauce reduce by half again while bringing the chicken up to a safe internal temperature of 165°F. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little more chicken stock to thin it out as the chicken cooks.
- Serve: Once the chicken is cooked through and coated in the luscious pepperoncini cream sauce, remove the pan from heat. Serve the dish warm over your choice of vegetables, pasta, rice, or enjoy it on its own for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini peppers depending on your preferred spice level.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for best flavor and texture.
- If the sauce reduces too much and thickens excessively, add extra chicken stock or a bit of water to reach your desired consistency.
- Ensure chicken strips are cut thinly for even cooking.
- This skillet dish pairs beautifully with steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, or garlic bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken, Italian chicken skillet, creamy chicken recipe, pepperoncini chicken, easy skillet dinner
