When the weather turns chilly and you’re craving something truly satisfying, this Creamy Chicken and Cabbage Skillet is the perfect answer.
It’s a comforting Irish dinner that brings warmth and flavor to your table with minimal fuss. Imagine tender chicken and sweet cabbage bathed in a rich, creamy sauce – it’s the kind of hearty dish that makes everyone feel cozy and well-fed.
This recipe is designed for those evenings when you need a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a traditional Irish chicken recipe that embraces simple ingredients and straightforward steps, resulting in a wonderfully flavorful main dish that’s ideal for a cozy evening. Get ready to discover a new family favorite that’s perfect for cold weather comfort food.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Creamy Chicken and Cabbage Skillet
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Creamy Chicken and Cabbage Skillet is a comforting Irish dinner, perfect for chilly weather. Tender chicken and sweet cabbage are bathed in a rich, creamy sauce, making for a hearty and flavorful main dish with minimal fuss. It’s a quick and easy recipe, ideal for weeknights and beginners, offering a satisfying meal that’s ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken cubes dry with paper towels. Season them lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes in a single layer, working in batches if necessary. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the thinly sliced cabbage, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage has softened and wilted down significantly.
5. Sprinkle the flour over the cabbage and onion mixture, stirring well to coat. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
6. Stir in the heavy cream and return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring gently, until the chicken is heated through and the sauce has reached your desired creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if using, and serve immediately while hot and creamy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Keywords: chicken, cabbage, creamy, skillet, irish, comfort food, weeknight, easy, one pan, hearty
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This creamy chicken and cabbage skillet is a true weeknight hero, perfect for busy families or anyone looking for a comforting meal without a lot of fuss. It works so well because it combines lean protein with a healthy vegetable in a rich, flavorful sauce, all cooked in one pan for easy cleanup. This recipe is ideal for beginners in the kitchen, as the steps are straightforward and the ingredients are readily available. You don’t need any special skills or equipment to achieve a delicious result.
It’s the kind of meal you’ll want to serve when you need something genuinely satisfying after a long day, or when you’re looking to introduce a taste of traditional Irish comfort food into your routine. It’s hearty enough to be a standalone meal, but also versatile enough to pair with a simple side. Whether it’s a blustery Tuesday evening or a relaxed Sunday supper, this dish fits perfectly into real life, offering warmth and flavor that truly hits the spot.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this creamy chicken and cabbage skillet is simple, using items you likely already have or can easily find at any grocery store. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the way a few humble ingredients transform into something truly delicious.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cups green cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)
For simple substitutions, if you don’t have chicken breasts, boneless, skinless chicken thighs work just as well and can add even more flavor. You can swap yellow onion for white onion if that’s what you have on hand. If you prefer a slightly different herb profile, dried rosemary or a mixed Italian seasoning can be used instead of thyme, though thyme is a classic pairing with chicken and cabbage. For the heavy cream, a lighter option like half-and-half can be used, but it will result in a less rich sauce. However, avoid milk as it may curdle when heated.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for efficiency, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights when you want a homemade meal without a long wait.
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
These times are estimates and can vary slightly based on your chopping speed and the heat of your stove, but generally, you can expect to have this comforting meal on the table in well under an hour.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this creamy chicken and cabbage skillet is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for a delicious and comforting meal.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken cubes dry with paper towels. This helps them brown better. Season them lightly with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken cubes in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and dried thyme, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the Cabbage: Stir in the thinly sliced cabbage, salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage has softened and wilted down significantly. It should be tender but still have a slight bite.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: Sprinkle the flour over the cabbage and onion mixture, stirring well to coat. Cook for 1 minute, letting the flour cook out slightly. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Finish the Dish: Stir in the heavy cream and return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring gently, until the chicken is heated through and the sauce has reached your desired creamy consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Serve Warm: Remove the skillet from the heat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if using, and serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy chicken and cabbage skillet is wonderfully versatile, making it easy to adapt for different tastes and occasions.
For kid-friendly ideas, you can finely shred the cabbage even more so it blends seamlessly into the sauce, making it less noticeable for picky eaters. You could also serve it over a bed of mild buttered noodles or rice, which are often popular with children. A sprinkle of mild shredded cheddar cheese over individual servings can also make it more appealing.
- Vegetable Boost: Add sliced carrots or bell peppers along with the onion for extra color and nutrients. Frozen peas or corn can be stirred in during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Spice It Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes added with the garlic can give it a subtle kick.
- Herb Power: Fresh dill or chives can be lovely alternatives or additions to the parsley for garnish.
- Cheese Please: Stir in a handful of grated Parmesan cheese at the very end for an extra layer of savory flavor.
For party or buffet serving, this dish holds well in a slow cooker on a “warm” setting after it’s fully cooked, making it a great option for gatherings. Just be sure to stir it occasionally to prevent sticking.
- A dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt on top adds a tangy contrast.
- Crumbled crispy bacon bits sprinkled over individual servings provide a salty crunch.
- Serve with crusty bread for dipping into the delicious creamy sauce.
- A side of mashed potatoes or simple boiled potatoes would make this an even more traditional Irish comfort meal.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time with your creamy chicken and cabbage skillet.
- Overcrowding the Pan: When searing the chicken, resist the urge to put too much in the skillet at once. Overcrowding lowers the pan’s temperature, leading to steamed chicken rather than beautifully browned pieces. Work in batches if necessary to ensure a good sear.
- Under-seasoning: Don’t be shy with salt and pepper. Taste the dish before serving and adjust the seasonings. Cabbage and chicken can be quite bland on their own, so proper seasoning is key to a flavorful dish.
- Rushing the Cabbage: Cabbage needs time to soften and release its sweetness. Don’t rush this step. Cooking it until tender (but not mushy) is essential for the texture and flavor of the final dish.
- Lumpy Sauce: When adding the flour, make sure to stir it well into the cooked vegetables for about a minute before adding the broth. This helps cook out the raw flour taste and prevents lumps. When adding the broth, pour it in gradually while stirring constantly.
- Overcooking the Chicken: While the chicken is returned to the pan to warm through, it’s already mostly cooked from the initial searing. Simmer it just long enough to heat through, otherwise, it can become dry and tough.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy chicken and cabbage skillet makes for excellent leftovers, and with a few tips, you can enjoy it just as much the next day.
For storage: Once the dish has cooled completely, transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The sauce may thicken slightly upon cooling, which is normal.
For reheating: The best way to reheat is gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth or milk (or even a tiny bit
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
