Royal Skillet Chicken Recipe: A Classic Family Favorite

Why You’ll Love This this Royal Skillet Chicken

This one-pan wonder transforms ordinary chicken into something that tastes like you’ve been slaving away in the kitchen all day, when really you just need about 30 minutes and a decent skillet.

The creamy, herb-flecked sauce practically makes itself while the chicken gets all golden and gorgeous, creating those little crispy bits that stick to the pan and make you want to lick it clean (not that I’m judging if you do).

Plus, with everything cooking together in one skillet, you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup, which honestly might be the best part of this whole recipe.

Ingredients List

This royal treatment starts with just a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your kitchen.

• 6 chicken breasts or 6 cut up chicken parts
• 1/2 cup margarine or oleo
• 2 tablespoons chopped onions
• 1 (4 ounce) can mushrooms
• 1 (10 1/2 ounce) can chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup cream or half-and-half
• 1/3 cup parsley flakes

A few things to keep in mind about these ingredients:

• You can swap the margarine for butter if you want to avoid the processed stuff, though honestly, sometimes margarine just hits different in comfort food recipes like this one.
• The canned mushrooms are convenient, but fresh ones will give you better texture and flavor if you’re feeling fancy.
• Half-and-half keeps things a bit lighter than heavy cream, but let’s be real, this isn’t exactly a health food either way.
• All that sodium from the canned broth and processed ingredients means this is definitely more of a treat-yourself kind of meal than an everyday dinner.

Step by Step Directions

Making this royal skillet chicken is a straightforward one-pan process that takes about 45 minutes from start to finish.

• Brown the chicken breasts or parts along with the mushrooms in margarine or oleo, then remove from skillet.
• Brown the chopped onions in the same skillet using the remaining fat.
• Add flour, parsley flakes, chicken broth, and cream or half-and-half to the skillet.
• Stir the mixture well to combine all ingredients and prevent lumps.
• Return the browned chicken and mushrooms to the skillet.
• Cook everything together for 25-30 minutes until chicken is fully cooked through.

For best results, use a premium kitchen knife set to ensure precise cuts when preparing your chicken and vegetables.

Substitutions and Variations

• Butter versus margarine – Real butter always wins the flavor game, but if you’re watching calories, olive oil or avocado oil work too, though they’ll change the taste profile slightly.
• Flour alternatives – Cornstarch or arrowroot powder thicken just as well, use about half the amount, and they’re perfect for anyone avoiding gluten.
• Add some heat – A pinch of cayenne, red pepper flakes, or a dash of hot sauce transforms this from mild comfort food to something with a little more personality.

Additional Things to Serve With This Dish

This rich, creamy chicken deserves sides that can either soak up that gorgeous sauce or provide a nice contrast to all that comfort-food goodness.

• Rice or noodles – Plain white rice, buttery egg noodles, or even wild rice will catch every drop of that creamy sauce, and honestly, isn’t that the whole point of having sauce in the first place?
• Mashed potatoes – Because sometimes you just want to go full comfort food mode, and who’s going to stop you from putting chicken and gravy over fluffy potatoes?
• Crusty bread – A good baguette or dinner rolls for the sauce-sopping that will inevitably happen, no matter how proper you think you’re being.
• Simple vegetables – Steamed broccoli, roasted carrots, or green beans add color and help you feel slightly less guilty about all that cream.
• Light salad – A basic mixed greens salad with vinaigrette cuts through the richness nicely, plus you can tell yourself you’re being healthy.
• Roasted vegetables – Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or cauliflower get caramelized and crispy, which plays beautifully against the creamy chicken.

Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)

Getting this dish just right isn’t rocket science, but a few insider tricks will take your chicken from good to absolutely swoon-worthy.

• Don’t skip the browning step – I know it seems like extra work when you’re hungry, but that golden crust on the chicken creates flavor depth that you simply can’t fake later.
• Pat the chicken completely dry first – Wet chicken won’t brown properly, it’ll just steam and turn gray, which is about as appetizing as it sounds.
• Use room temperature chicken – Cold chicken straight from the fridge will drop your pan temperature and mess with your browning game.
• Keep your heat at medium – Too high and you’ll burn the outside while leaving the inside raw, too low and you’ll never get that gorgeous golden color.
• Don’t crowd the pan – Give each piece some breathing room or they’ll steam instead of sear, and nobody wants sad, pale chicken.
• Let the flour cook for a minute – Raw flour tastes chalky and weird, so give it a quick toast in the pan before adding your liquids.
• Add the cream last and keep the heat gentle – High heat will curdle your cream faster than you can say “dinner disaster,” so take it slow and steady.
• Taste and adjust seasoning at the end – The chicken broth might be salty enough, or you might need a pinch more salt and pepper to make everything sing.

Nutritional Facts

This hearty chicken dish provides a solid protein foundation with approximately 350-400 calories per serving when the recipe serves 6 people.

• Protein powerhouse – Each serving delivers around 35-40 grams of high-quality protein from the chicken breast, supporting muscle maintenance and keeping you satisfied.
• Moderate calorie count – At roughly 350-400 calories per serving, this fits comfortably into most balanced meal plans without breaking the calorie bank.
• Fat content – Contains about 18-22 grams of fat per serving, primarily from the margarine and cream, providing essential fatty acids and flavor.
• Carbohydrate light – Only 6-8 grams of carbs per serving, mainly from the flour and small amounts in the broth and vegetables.
• Sodium consideration – Can be high in sodium (800-1000mg per serving) depending on the chicken broth used, so opt for low-sodium versions if watching salt intake.
• Calcium boost – The cream and half-and-half contribute modest amounts of calcium for bone health.
• B-vitamin rich – Chicken provides essential B vitamins, particularly niacin and B6, important for energy metabolism.
• Iron source – Delivers about 10-15% of daily iron needs, supporting healthy blood oxygen transport.
• Customizable nutrition – Swap heavy cream for milk or Greek yogurt to reduce calories and fat while boosting protein even further.

Fun “Did You Know?”

Did you know that skillet cooking actually predates ovens by thousands of years, making this Royal Skillet Chicken recipe part of humanity’s oldest culinary tradition?

I find it fascinating that cast iron skillets can last generations when properly maintained.

The browning technique we use here creates the Maillard reaction, which develops those complex, savory flavors you taste in every bite.

Fun fact: mushrooms add natural umami, acting as a flavor enhancer without MSG.

The cream sauce technique originated from French cuisine, making this humble skillet dish surprisingly sophisticated.

You’re cooking with methods spanning centuries of culinary evolution.