Cottage Cheese Parmesan Firecracker Chicken Recipe
This Cottage Cheese Parmesan Firecracker Chicken is a cozy, creamy skillet recipe perfect for a comforting dinner. Tender cubed chicken is seared to golden perfection, then simmered in a luscious sauce made from cottage cheese and Parmesan, seasoned with paprika and black pepper for a subtle spicy kick. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish pairs wonderfully with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
- 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 with salt, paprika, and black pepper until evenly coated. Pat the chicken dry before seasoning to help it brown properly in the skillet.
- Heat the Skillet: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering to prevent sticking and build flavor early.
- Sear the Chicken: Add the chicken in a single layer and cook without moving until golden on the bottom. Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure proper searing instead of steaming.
- Flip and Cook Through: Flip the chicken pieces and cook until fully cooked and lightly golden on all sides. Chicken is done when it feels firm but still juicy.
- Lower the Heat: Reduce the heat to low before adding the sauce ingredients to keep the sauce smooth and creamy.
- Add Cottage Cheese: Add the cottage cheese to the skillet and stir gently as it warms and softens, forming a creamy base.
- Stir in Parmesan: Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese gradually, stirring until the sauce coats the chicken evenly and has a smooth texture.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust salt or pepper as needed to bring the flavors together.
- Simmer Briefly: Let the chicken simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from heat and let rest for one minute before serving to help the sauce settle and cling to the chicken.
Notes
- Keep the heat low once the cottage cheese is added to prevent separation.
- Chicken thighs offer extra juiciness, while breasts keep the dish lighter.
- Serve over rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers reheat best over low heat with gentle stirring.
Keywords: Cottage Cheese Chicken, Parmesan Chicken, Skillet Chicken, Creamy Chicken Skillet, Easy Dinner Recipes, Firecracker Chicken
