Made on the stovetop with chicken thighs, bacon, garlic and a dairy-free cream sauce this recipe comes together in 30 minutes using just one pan. Full fat coconut milk acts as a dairy-free substitute for heavy cream and milk, and coats the chicken in a comforting healthy cream sauce.
If you like this recipe, you have to try our dairy free creamy tuscan chicken recipe and this dairy free chicken breast recipe with mushroom sauce. They’re both dairy free and full of creamy deliciousness!
Making a Creamy Sauce That’s Dairy Free
In this creamy garlic chicken skillet, we use full fat coconut milk – the rich, silky stuff, and then mask the coconut flavor with lots of garlic. This is truly the best coconut milk cream sauce for chicken and we use it all the time!
For this recipe we also layer in nutritional yeast to get that dairy-free “cheesy” flavor going. It is a winning combo you’re really going to love!
If you like this recipe, you need to try these other one pan creamy chicken recipes, they’re reader favorites!
Looking for more? Check out this roundup of healthy chicken recipes!
How to Make Dairy Free Creamy Garlic Chicken
This creamy, dreamy dish comes together all in one pan in about 30 minutes.
- Chop and cook the bacon into crispy bits.
- While the bacon cooks prep and gather the rest of the ingredients.
- Cook the chicken in the bacon fat with a little seasoning.
- Make the rich and creamy sauce.
- Simmer everything together for a few minutes and serve.
Keep browsing – Dig into all of our healthy one pan recipes here.
Serving Options For Chicken With Garlic Sauce
We like to serve this creamy garlic chicken over greens and rice or cauliflower rice. The sauce mixes with the rice perfectly for a creamy chicken and rice dish.
You can also serve it along with:
- Perfect air fryer baked potatoes
- Garlicky sautéed mushrooms and asparagus
- Simple roasted radishes (low carb)
It’s Whole30 + Paleo Friendly Too
We have a ton of Whole30 recipes on our site, and this is a reader favorite! Here’s one of the comments:
“I never leave reviews for anything but this recipe is to DIE for. I can’t believe it’s whole30 compliant (without the rice of course!) This is the best meal I’ve had in a long time, thanks for the recipe!”
– CharisBasically, you can’t go wrong with this recipe. It’s a fit for just about any dietary needs and is creamy and saucy enough anyone will love it!
Doing a Whole30? Check out our complete Whole30 meal plan that covers every recipe you need for the entire 30 days!
Your Turn To Try This Easy Stovetop Chicken Thigh Recipe
This is one of our favorite easy, weeknight dinners. Make this creamy garlic chicken skillet when you’re looking for a quick and easy meal any night of the week!
If you try it, leave a comment and rating below to let us know how it goes! Don’t forget to tag us in your pics on Instagram @realsimplegood, so we can check them out. We love to see what you’re making!
Like this Recipe?
SHARE IT NOW OR PIN IT FOR LATER!
Stovetop Creamy Garlic Chicken Thighs (Dairy Free)
Ingredients
- 6 pieces bacon, diced
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
For the creamy sauce:
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
For serving (optional):
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 6 cups spinach, (or greens of choice)
- 2 cups cooked rice or cauliflower rice
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook diced bacon until crispy. Once crispy, place on a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
- Place chicken thighs in the hot skillet with bacon grease and season with half of the Italian seasoning. Cook for 5-6 minutes, flip and season with the rest of the Italian seasoning. Cook for another 5-6 more minutes, until the thighs are cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, prep onions, mushrooms, garlic and parsley (optional) as noted above. Set aside.
- When chicken is done, remove it from the skillet and place it on the plate with bacon.
- Now, make the creamy sauce by placing onions and mushrooms in pan. Cook until both soften, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add coconut milk, minced garlic, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper. Stir to combine everything. Then, turn to low and add chicken and bacon back to the pan. Simmer for 3-5 minutes to marry all the flavors. Garnish with chopped parsley (optional)
- For a complete meal, serve the creamy chicken over a bed of greens and rice. Or, serve with any other side of choice. Enjoy.
Notes
This was so good and flavorful!! I get tired of eating the same things over and over and I don’t eat fast food. I will be making this again!
Few things I changed was I did a 1/2 cup of coconut milk in fear of it being too strong and a 1/2 cup of plant based heavy cream (lactose intolerant) then near the end I added chopped spinach leaves. Delish!! Thank you for sharing!!
Great supper! Made with cream instead of coconut milk and added cheese. Served over cauliflower rice and raw spinach. Great blend of color, texture and taste!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was a very good recipe, tho, if you do not like coconut milk, I would suggest replacing in this recipe. My husband hates coconut milk. I kept it in bc I thought the garlic would hide it, but nope, he tasted it (so did I) and I had the leftovers for myself (not a bad thing). Will be making again tonight w/o the coconut milk!
Happy to hear you enjoyed this one. Bummer your hubby isn’t a coconut milk fan, but that’s an easy swap for next time. Thanks for trying our recipe and coming back to share how it went! 🙂
I love this recipe! I was hesitant to cook it because I don’t really care for coconut taste, but you don’t taste the coconut once it’s all made. It’s delicious!
Happy to hear that, thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review!
Absolutely delicious! Will definitely be making again!!
This recipe is creamy goodness!! It looks fancy but it takes less than 30 minutes! The sauce is amazing- I served it with mashed potatoes. Thanks for a great recipe!
You’re welcome Nicole, this is a favorite in our house! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review 🙂
How can it be bad if it has bacon? It was amazing. Didn’t change a thing about the recipe. It’s not a difficult meal to make, but is impressive when you serve. It is a little messy (bacon splatters so maybe use a screen). Love that it is another Whole30 compliant meal. Real good, tasty food!
Thanks for the great review Susan, we appreciate it 🙂
Cany you subtitue with extra creamy oat milk?
That should work! Let us know how it goes. 🙂
This was so good and so easy to make! My type of dinner.
Hooray! So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to leave a rating and review. We appreciate hearing from you! 🙂
Thanks for making me look good!! My husband loved this meal so much 🙂
You’re welcome! We love hearing that it was a hit! Thanks for sharing on Instagram too! 🙂
I never leave reviews for anything but this recipe is to DIE for. I can’t believe it’s whole30 compliant (without the rice of course!) This is the best meal I’ve had in a long time, thanks for the recipe!
You’re very welcome, this is one of our favorites too!
Great recipe! Made it two days in a row.
Oh my gosh! Second time I’ve made this. It’s delish!!! Thank you for a great recipe.
We are thrilled to hear you love this one! Thanks for taking the time to come back and share your rating/review! 🙂
This was delicious! I increased the amount of some ingredients and probably should have increased the amount of coconut milk. I can’t wait to make this again!
Are these boneless, skinless thighs? Bone-in? Skin-on? Thanks!
We used boneless, skinless. I just updated the recipe to note this, thanks!
Awesome recipe! Made this dish during the Whole30 program one night from dinner. I over ate lol! I could not stop eating it. The flavors are so full and fresh. Very easy to prepare. I will definitely be making this again for my family.
Glad you liked this one Josh 🙂
Made this for the first time today – yum!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for trying it out! 🙂
My family loves this recipe! I have shared it with family who also really love this recipe!!! Thanks for this awesome site and showing people that you can eat healthier and it tastes amazing!
So glad you (and everyone else) love the recipe! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment 🙂
Can you make this ahead and then reheat?
Yes, you could do that! 🙂
Hi. This looks delicious. How important is the nutritional yeast? I don’t have any on hand. Could it be substituted for something else?
There isn’t a good substitute for it, but you could omit the nutritional yeast. It won’t get the “cheesy” flavor but it will still be creamy.
Is this a 12″ skillet?
Thank you.
Yes it is. We hope you give the recipe a try!