Creamy Garlic Chicken

This Creamy Garlic Chicken combines tender chicken thighs with Dijon mustard, Herbes de Provence, plenty of garlic, and a rich cream sauce. Make it in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop for an easy low carb dinner that is ready in about 30 minutes.

The chicken cooks directly in its flavorful garlic and herb marinade, then the cooking liquid is finished with cream to make a savory sauce without flour or cornstarch. This reader-favorite recipe has earned hundreds of ratings and works equally well for a weeknight meal or a dinner for guests.

What Makes Low Carb Chicken Recipes So Fantastic?

This is a great low carb chicken recipe that takes less than 30 minutes start to finish but is elegant enough to serve for company.

It's a very simple French Garlic Chicken recipe that combines juicy chicken thighs with dijon mustard, garlic, and a mixture of spices to make a French-inspired dish that is as delicious as it looks.

It's easy to see why this is one of my best Instant Pot recipes.

The only things you may have to buy to make this recipe, are an Instant Pot and Herbes De Provence. Everything else is probably already in your house.

Why Make Creamy Garlic Chicken?

This is actually one of my post popular recipes on the blog. You know what several people have said about this recipe?

This sauce would make a BOOT taste good!

When was the last time you made a sauce like that?? How about tonight then? I promise Instant Pot chicken thighs or chicken breast will taste incredible.

• Fast. The chicken and sauce can be ready in approximately 30 minutes.
• Two Cooking Methods. Prepare it in the Instant Pot or use a heavy-bottomed skillet on the stovetop.
• Full of Flavor. Garlic, Dijon mustard, and Herbes de Provence create a savory, aromatic cream sauce.
• Low Carb. Each serving contains approximately 4 grams of carbohydrates.
• Make-Ahead Friendly. Marinate the chicken in advance or freeze the uncooked chicken with the marinade for a future meal.
• Reader Favorite. This established recipe has earned hundreds of ratings from home cooks.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Chicken Thighs. Boneless, skinless thighs stay moist under pressure and absorb the sauce well. You can also use chicken breasts, but they have a tendency to be less moist.
• Herbes de Provence. Gives the chicken its rosemary, thyme, oregano, and savory notes. Spice blends vary depending on brand. Some contain lavender, and some do not. I prefer the one with it.
• Dijon Mustard. Adds acidity, tang, and depth without making the sauce taste strongly of mustard.
• Apple Cider Vinegar. Balances the cream and helps season the marinade.
• Olive Oil. Carries the herbs and helps coat the chicken.
• Garlic. Used in both the marinade and cooking sauce to give that extra punch of garlic flavor.
• Butter. Adds richness and helps soften the chopped garlic.
• Heavy Cream. Thickens the cooking liquid and creates the finished sauce.
• Water. Supplies the liquid necessary for pressure cooking.
• Salt and Pepper. Salt was reduced from the original recipe based on reader feedback.

How To Make Garlic Chicken In The Instant Pot

1. Mix together the oil, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, and Herbes de Provence.
2. Coat the chicken with the marinade. At this point, you can either cook in a few minutes, marinate in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, or freeze along with the marinade.
3. Sauté butter, garlic, and chicken. Then add marinade and water.
4. Cook for 5 mins under high pressure.
5. Allow it to release pressure naturally for 10 minutes, and then release all remaining pressure.
6. Slowly add in the cream, and allow the sauce to thicken on the Sauté setting.
7. Ladle the sauce over the chicken, garnish as desired, and serve up your delicious low carb chicken recipe--and transport yourself to Provence with the first bite.

How To Make French Garlic Chicken On The Stove Top

1. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade, using a wire whisk to emulsify the oil and vinegar together.
   
2. Add in chicken thighs and allow it to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes. If you need to marinate for longer, put in the refrigerator.
   
3. When you are ready to cook, heat a heavy-bottomed pan. When it is hot, add the butter and allow it to melt.
   
4. Add chopped garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
   
5. Add in the chicken leaving behind as much of the marinade as you can. Do not discard the marinade.
   
6. Cook the chicken thighs so that they can lightly brown on one side, 3-5 minutes.
   
7. Add the marinade and 1/4 cup water.
   
8. Cover the pot and allow it to cook for 10 minutes, turning the thighs halfway through.
   
9. Using a meat thermometer, ensure an internal temperature of 165f.
   
10. Remove the chicken on to a plate and add 1/4 cup cream into the pot, mixing well with the liquid in the pot.
    
11. As soon as the sauce thickens, pour it onto the chicken thighs and serve.

Tips and Tricks For Making This Keto Chicken Recipe

• Prep Ahead
  • If you have time to marinate the chicken, it will be that much more tender, but you don't have to. You can use this keto chicken marinade for anything from 30 minutes to up to 2 days in the refrigerator.
  • You can marinate the chicken, and freeze the marinade and chicken together. That way, when you're ready to cook, simply brown the garlic in butter, throw in the frozen chicken and marinade (skipping the step where you sear the chicken), and just cook it in the Instant Pot.
• Double Up
  • You can double up on the sauce ingredients and save some of the extra sauce to serve over asparagus or other steamed vegetables.
  • You could add in a cup or so of mushrooms to this dish and have a more complete meat and vegetable dish in one go.
• Use similarly sized chicken thighs so they cook evenly.
• Do not let the garlic brown deeply or it may taste bitter.
• Brown the chicken in batches if the skillet is crowded.
• Add heavy cream only after pressure cooking.
• Remove the chicken while reducing the sauce to prevent overcooking.
• Use a food thermometer to confirm doneness.
• Allow the sauce to simmer before deciding it is too thin.
• Taste before adding more salt because mustard and herb blends vary.
• Use a Herbes de Provence blend without lavender if preferred.

Variations

• Mushroom- Add sliced mushrooms to the Instant Pot along with the garlic. The mushrooms will release earthy flavors and add extra depth to the creamy sauce. Optional: finish with a splash of white wine for a subtle richness.
• Lemon- Add lemon zest and juice to the cream sauce.
  This brightens up the dish, giving a fresh, tangy twist that pairs beautifully with the garlic. Garnish with extra lemon slices before serving.
• Spinach or Kale- Stir in fresh spinach or kale at the end of cooking.
  The greens wilt slightly in the hot cream sauce, adding color, nutrients, and a mild, leafy flavor.
• This is a keto Instant Pot chicken recipe but you would never know that. It's a delicious low carb chicken recipe.
• If you are dairy-free or kosher, use coconut milk or coconut cream for the cream, and coconut or olive oil for the butter.
• Vegetarians should use a hearty vegetable like butternut squash or even turnips instead of chicken.
• If you are allergic to Lavender, you can either find a lavender-free Herbes de Provence or use a mixture of dried thyme, oregano, rosemary, and marjoram.

Can I Put Frozen Chicken In My Instant Pot?

Yes! That's one of the best features Instant Pot recipes offer. The ability to have dinner ready in no time, even if you forgot to pull the meat out of the freezer the night before. Here's what you should know:

• Prep. The most important part of cooking chicken in your Instant Pot is making sure you freeze your chicken in a single layer so your pressure cooker chicken cooks evenly.
• Time. The pot may take a little longer to come to pressure since the frozen chicken will keep the temperature inside the pot cooler longer.
• Recipe. The actual cooking time of the recipe will be the same as it states once the pot comes up to pressure.

What To Serve With It

Garlic chicken can be paired with a variety of side dishes to make a delicious and satisfying meal. Here are some of my favorite things to pair it with, both low carb and more traditional:

• Roasted vegetables- Roasting vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or asparagus with garlic and olive oil can complement the garlic flavor in the chicken.
• Rice- A side of rice can soak up the flavorful sauce from the garlic chicken. You can make plain white rice or add some herbs or spices for extra flavor.
• Salad- A fresh salad with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigrette can balance out the richness of the garlic chicken.
• Potatoes- Roasted or mashed potatoes are a classic side dish that go well with garlic chicken.
• Pasta- Serve the garlic chicken over a bed of pasta, such as linguine or fettuccine, for a comforting and hearty meal.
• Bread- Garlic bread or a crusty baguette can be a great way to soak up the sauce from the garlic chicken.

How Long Does It Last?

The longer the chicken sits in the sauce, the more flavor it takes on, so leftovers are always gobbled up at our house.

For food safety reasons, try to enjoy this Creamy Garlic Chicken within 3-4 days after preparing it.

I promise you, this shouldn't be an issue.

Can You Freeze It?

Yes, you can freeze creamy garlic chicken, but there are some important considerations to ensure it maintains its texture and flavor.

To freeze, allow the cooked dish to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer-safe bag. Removing as much air as possible helps prevent freezer burn and preserves the dish’s flavor. Keep in mind that the cream-based sauce may slightly separate after freezing, which is normal, but it can be re-emulsified by gently reheating on the stovetop or in the microwave while stirring.

For the best quality, consume frozen creamy garlic chicken within 2–3 months.

More Recipes To Love

• Chicken and mushrooms
• Instant Pot chicken recipes
• Low carb chicken recipes
• French recipes
• Air fryer asparagus
• Rosemary roasted potatoes
• 30-minute chicken dinners

This Creamy Garlic Chicken recipe is so good you'll want to add it to your weekly dinner rotation. If you love it as much as I do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Pin it to make it again soon.

Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.