Cottage Cheese Parmesan Firecracker Chicken Recipe
Cottage Cheese Parmesan Firecracker Chicken is a creamy, flavorful skillet dish featuring tender cubed chicken cooked to golden perfection and simmered in a luscious sauce made from cottage cheese and Parmesan. This American dinner recipe balances protein with a rich, tangy sauce for a satisfying and easy weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast or chicken thighs, cubed
- Salt, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon oil
Sauce
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season the cubed chicken evenly with salt, paprika, and black pepper after patting dry to ensure proper browning during cooking.
- Heat the Skillet: Add oil to a large skillet and heat over medium until shimmering, which helps prevent sticking and boosts flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in the skillet and cook undisturbed until golden brown on the bottom, avoiding overcrowding to prevent steaming.
- Flip and Cook Through: Turn the chicken pieces over and continue cooking until fully cooked and lightly golden on all sides, about firm but juicy to the touch.
- Lower the Heat: Reduce heat to low to prepare for adding the sauce, preserving its creamy texture without curdling.
- Add Cottage Cheese: Stir in the cottage cheese gently as it warms and softens, forming the base of a creamy sauce.
- Stir in Parmesan: Gradually sprinkle in Parmesan cheese, stirring to evenly coat the chicken in the sauce and achieve a smooth consistency.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the dish and add salt or pepper as necessary to balance the flavors perfectly.
- Simmer Briefly: Let the chicken and sauce simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and thicken the sauce.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from heat and allow the dish to rest for one minute, helping the sauce settle and adhere to the chicken before serving.
Notes
- Keep the heat low after adding cottage cheese to avoid sauce separation.
- Chicken thighs add juiciness; breasts keep it lighter.
- Serve over rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers reheat best on low heat with gentle stirring for sauce integrity.
Keywords: chicken skillet recipe, cottage cheese chicken, Parmesan chicken, creamy chicken dinner, easy stovetop chicken, firecracker chicken
