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This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is the kind of comfort food that brings everyone to the table. Juicy, golden-baked chicken thighs are paired with tender cremini mushrooms and crispy bacon, all smothered in a rich garlic parmesan cream sauce. It’s cozy, flavorful, and surprisingly simple to make.
Whether you’re craving a hearty low-carb dinner or looking for a crowd-pleasing creamy mushroom chicken recipe, this one ticks all the boxes. It’s naturally gluten-free, full of savory goodness, and just so satisfying. One bite and you’ll see why readers keep coming back to this creamy garlic mushroom chicken—it’s a weeknight favorite for good reason!
Why This Recipe Works
There’s nothing quite like the comfort of creamy chicken and mushrooms—but when you add golden baked chicken thighs and crispy bacon to the mix, it turns into something truly special. The chicken stays juicy on the inside with beautifully crisped skin, while the mushrooms soak up all that garlicky, savory flavor.
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken also gives you the flexibility to use either heavy cream or half and half, depending on how rich you want it. It’s a foolproof dish that balances indulgence with simplicity, making it perfect for weeknights, family dinners, or when you’re just craving a truly satisfying creamy mushroom chicken.
What Goes Into This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is made with simple ingredients that come together for maximum flavor. From juicy chicken thighs to a rich garlic parmesan cream sauce loaded with mushrooms and bacon, every bite is packed with comforting, savory goodness.
- Chicken Thighs – Bone-in, skin-on (or off) for juicy, golden-baked results.
- Garlic – Crushed fresh garlic adds bold, aromatic flavor throughout the dish.
- Bacon – Diced and pan-fried until crispy, it adds smoky depth to the creamy sauce.
- Mushrooms – Cremini mushrooms are tender and earthy, perfect in creamy sauces.
- Cream & Broth – Use either heavy cream or half and half, combined with chicken broth for a luscious, well-balanced sauce.
- Parmesan – Freshly grated for richness in the sauce, with extra for garnish.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for the full list of ingredients with measurements.
How To Make Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
- Prep the Chicken: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange chicken thighs on a plate. In a jug, mix olive oil, crushed garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Rub the mixture all over the chicken to coat evenly.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and sear until golden and crispy, about 2–3 minutes per side.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast the chicken for 25–30 minutes, or until fully cooked through. Once done, remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Start the Sauce Base: In the same skillet with reserved juices, sauté the remaining garlic over medium heat for about 1 minute until fragrant. Add bacon and cook until just beginning to crisp.
- Cook the Mushrooms: Add sliced mushrooms and cook until they soften and release their juices, stirring occasionally to coat them in the bacon and garlic mixture.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Pour in the cream, chicken broth, and Parmesan. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until the sauce starts to thicken slightly.
- Season and Finish: Season with ground pepper and taste before adding salt. Return the chicken to the pan and let it simmer in the sauce for 1–2 minutes to absorb the flavor.
- Garnish and Serve: Top with extra chopped parsley and shaved or grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot over rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
This Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken is rich and flavorful, so pairing it with the right sides brings balance and variety to your plate. Try it with Creamy Tuscan Gnocchi—the soft gnocchi and sun-dried tomatoes complement the garlicky cream sauce beautifully for an ultra-comforting combo.
For something lighter, go with One Pot Orzo Primavera for a fresh pop of lemon and veggies, or Sheet Pan Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli & Green Beans for an easy roasted side with crispy edges and bold flavor. All three make this creamy mushroom chicken feel like a complete meal.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes! Half and half creates a lighter sauce while still keeping things creamy. The sauce may be slightly thinner, but still rich and flavorful.
Cremini mushrooms are ideal for their earthy flavor and meaty texture, but white button mushrooms or even sliced portobellos can be used.
Searing the chicken first locks in moisture, and finishing in the oven ensures it cooks through evenly. Be careful not to overbake—use a meat thermometer if needed.
Creamy Baked Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms & Bacon
Ingredients
FOR THE CHICKEN:
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on or off
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
- 1 pinch Kosher salt to taste
- 1 pinch ground black pepper to taste
FOR THE CREAM SAUCE:
- 4 cloves garlic crushed
- 7 ounces diced bacon
- 14 ounces brown mushrooms Cremini, sliced
- 1 cup heavy cream or half and half
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup parmesan freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground to taste
- 1 pinch salt only if needed to your taste
- 1 pinch fresh parsley extra chopped, to garnish
- 1 pinch parmesan fresh shaved or grated, to garnish
Instructions
BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange chicken on a plate. Combine together the olive oil, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a jug. Rub the oil mixture over the chicken to completely coat.
- Heat a large oevn proof pan or skillet over medium high heat. Sear the chicken, skin-side down first, until skin is crisp and golden brown. Rotate and sear the other side (about 2-3 minutes per side).
- Transfer to oven and roast until completely cooked through, about 25-30 minutes.
- Once chicken is done, remove from skillet; set aside. Pour out HALF of the chicken juices left in the pan.
SAUCE
- Using the same skillet the chicken was in, fry the garlic in the reserved chicken juices over medium heat, stirring frequently until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the bacon and fry until just beginning to crisp. Add in the mushrooms and cook until mushrooms begin to soften.
- Pour in the cream, chicken broth and Parmesan. Let simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
- Season with pepper. Taste first before adding in any extra salt, as the bacon will add the salt.
- Add the chicken back into the pan; allow to simmer for 1-2 minutes in the cream to take on the flavours.
- Garnish with parsley and shaved or grated parmesan, if desired. Serve over rice, pasta, or steamed/grilled vegetables.
Notes
TIPS
- If using cream: Thickened cream, heavy cream, light or reduced fat cooking cream are all fine to use. If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk together 1 level teaspoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cream until lump free and well blended. Add the mixture into the cream sauce, while stirring continuously, until thickened.
- If using half and half: Bring to a gentle simmer; whisk 2 teaspoons of cornstarch into 1-2 tablespoons of *extra* half and half; pour cornstarch mixture into the centre of the pan; stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes a ‘cream’. Nutrition facts are calculated based on skin-on, bone in thighs, and heavy cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This recipe was a huge hit with my family! So good and something I will be making again. I didn’t change a thing!
Delicious….if you want to cut the calories but not give up the creaminess, do what I do. I use Carnation low fat condensed canned milk. All the creaminess of regular cream without the added fat.
What type of bacon did you use?
Hi Cleny. Centre cut bacon 🙂
CREAMY GARLIC PARMESAN MUSHROOM CHICKEN & BACON
This was delicious! The only thing I substituted was the bacon (I didn’t have any). I used baked ham instead. I also followed the milk directions instead of cream. It was perfect! I served it with mashed potatoes and roasted carrots. A definite keeper! Thanks so much!
This was fabulous!!!!! So yummy and everyone loved it!!!
This is so amazing! I didn’t change a thing (except I doubled it for a big family). The flavors are wonderful and everybody loves it…which is absolutely impossible if you knew my family. Finally a meal that everyone will eat. Thank you so much for your recipes! I’ve made 3 of them already and all of them are delicious and will be in the Johnson household for a long time.
Karina: is it possible to get the nutritional info for your recipes?
Hi Marian! Yes I usually provide them and hadn’t realised this one is missing the info! I’ve now updated the post 🙂 My Fitness Pal is what I normally use to calculate them if you ever need them in an emergency 🙂
Is there a fish substitute in all your fish recipe, like milk fish, cream Dori? Because salmon in the Phils. is very expensive !
Hope to hear from you soon and thank u for your time and effort in attending to my question .
Hi Teresita! You can definitely use other fish to replace the salmon. It shouldn’t be an issue in regards to taste! If you try some, please let me know how you go!
Fabulous! Great company recipe. With some crusty bread for mopping & a crisp green salad you have a wonderful meal.s
When do you add the chicken back into the sauce? Do you need to let the Chicken recook a couple of minutes in the sauce?
Hi Rosa! Yes, exactly. The instructions are in the recipe box 🙂