This Cheesy Garlic Herb Baked Cream Cheese Chicken is a decadent dinner that tastes like a restaurant indulgence but is effortless enough for a weeknight. Featuring juicy, pan-seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich herb and garlic cream cheese topping, it is baked until bubbly and golden.
With savory Italian spices and a triple-cheese blend, this low-carb, high-protein meal is pure comfort food that the whole family will love.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A savory, aromatic blend of garlic, onion, and Italian herbs infuses the rich cream cheese topping, which pairs perfectly with the seasoned chicken.
- Texture: The chicken gets a golden sear before baking, ensuring it stays tender, while the thick cheese layer melts into a gooey, bubbly crust.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 30 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves a quick sear and a simple topping mixture.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron or stainless steel) to transition from stovetop searing to oven baking. A medium bowl is used to mix the cheese topping. The ingredients rely on pantry spices, fresh chicken breasts, and a trio of cheeses cream cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan for the ultimate melt.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts – Use 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Searing them first locks in moisture so they don’t dry out during the 25-minute bake.
- Cream Cheese – It is essential that the 8 oz block of cream cheese is softened. This acts as the base for the topping and needs to be pliable to mix with the other ingredients.
- Mozzarella & Parmesan – Shredded mozzarella adds the classic cheese pull, while grated Parmesan adds a salty, savory kick.
- Olive Oil – Used for searing the chicken to get that crucial golden crust.
- Spices – A blend of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried Italian seasoning packs the cheese mixture with flavor without needing to chop fresh aromatics.
- Fresh Parsley – Chopped fresh parsley adds a pop of color and freshness to finish the rich dish.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Spinach – You can mix 1/2 cup of cooked, squeezed-dry spinach into the cream cheese mixture for a “Florentine” twist.
- Spice Heat – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the cheese mixture if you enjoy a little kick.
- Herbs – Fresh basil or thyme can be used in place of, or in addition to, the dried Italian seasoning.
How to Make Cheesy Garlic Herb Baked Cream Cheese Chicken
- Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with the salt and black pepper.
- Make the Topping: In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried Italian seasoning until well combined and creamy. Set this mixture aside.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and sear for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Top: Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread the prepared cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of each chicken breast, making sure to cover the surface completely.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese topping is bubbly and slightly golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the juices redistribute for more tender chicken. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
Pro Tip: If your chicken breasts are very thick, pound them to an even thickness before searing. This ensures they cook evenly in the oven without the cheese topping burning before the center of the meat is done.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing adds flavor (the Maillard reaction) that you just don’t get from baking alone. It also gives the chicken a nice texture under the soft cheese.
- Room Temp Cheese: If your cream cheese is cold, microwave it for 15-20 seconds so it mixes easily with the herbs and other cheeses.
- Oven-Safe Skillet: If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer the seared chicken to a baking dish before adding the cheese topping.
FAQs
- Is this keto-friendly? Yes! This recipe is naturally very low in carbs and high in healthy fats and protein, making it perfect for keto diets.
- Can I use chicken thighs? Absolutely. Boneless skinless chicken thighs work great and are even more forgiving if overcooked slightly.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or oven.
Serving Suggestions
- Vegetables: Serve with roasted broccoli, asparagus, or green beans to balance the richness of the cheese.
- Salad: A fresh green salad with vinaigrette cuts through the creamy topping.
- Rice: If you aren’t counting carbs, serve over rice or pasta to catch any melted cheese sauce.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can mix the cheese topping a day in advance and store it in the fridge.
- Cooking: This dish is best cooked fresh so the chicken stays juicy and the cheese topping is perfectly melted.
Cheesy Garlic Herb Baked Cream Cheese Chicken
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
This Cheesy Garlic Herb Baked Cream Cheese Chicken is a decadent dinner that tastes like a restaurant indulgence but is effortless enough for a weeknight. Featuring juicy, pan-seared chicken breasts smothered in a rich herb and garlic cream cheese topping, it is baked until bubbly and golden. With savory Italian spices and a triple-cheese blend, this low-carb, high-protein meal is pure comfort food that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
The Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
The Garlic Herb Cheese Topping
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Prep
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Season Chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with the salt and black pepper.
Make the Topping
In a medium bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, shredded Mozzarella, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried Italian seasoning. Stir until well combined and creamy. Set aside.
Sear the Chicken
Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (like cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Note: The chicken does not need to be cooked through yet; it will finish in the oven.
Top
Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread a generous amount of the prepared cream cheese mixture evenly over the top of each chicken breast, covering the surface completely.
Bake
Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese topping is bubbly and slightly golden, and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Rest & Serve
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes (this helps keep the juices inside). Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Thickness Matters: If your chicken breasts are very uneven or thick, pound them to an even thickness before searing. This ensures they cook evenly without the cheese topping burning before the center is safe to eat.
Oven-Safe Skillet: If you don’t have a skillet that can go in the oven, simply transfer the seared chicken to a greased baking dish before adding the cheese topping.
Temperature is Key: Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature (or microwaved for 15 seconds) so it mixes smoothly with the herbs. Conversely, make sure the chicken is seared hot to lock in flavor.
Keto-Friendly: This recipe is naturally low-carb and high-protein, making it an excellent choice for Keto or low-carb diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sear & Bake
- Cuisine: Italian-American / Low Carb
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Chicken Breast
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 52g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
Keywords: cream cheese chicken, baked chicken breast, keto chicken recipes, garlic herb chicken, cheesy chicken bake, cast iron chicken recipes, low carb dinner
