1. Sear the chicken

Start by seasoning your chicken breasts with a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then, heat up your olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the pan and let it get nice and golden on each side—this will take about 4-5 minutes per side. (Here’s a little tip: don’t overcrowd the pan, or you won’t get that beautiful golden-brown sear.) Once they’re browned, remove them from the skillet and set them aside.

2. Sauté the aromatics

Without cleaning the skillet, add your chopped onion and minced garlic right into the oil and chicken drippings. This adds extra flavor to the dish! Cook them for about 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until they’re soft and fragrant.

3. Toast the rice

This step is one of my favorite little tricks. Add the rice to the skillet with the onions and garlic, and let it toast for a couple of minutes. Stir it often so it doesn’t burn, but you want it to get a bit golden—it’ll add a lovely nutty flavor to the final dish.

4. Add the liquids and simmer

Now pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring it all together. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, making sure everything is well-combined. This is where the magic happens!

5. Cook the chicken and rice together

Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the creamy rice mixture. Cover the skillet with its lid (or foil), reduce the heat to low, and let it cook for 20-25 minutes. The rice will absorb all that delicious broth, and the chicken will finish cooking through. Just be sure to check that the rice is tender before moving on to the final step. If the liquid evaporates too quickly, feel free to add a splash more broth or water.

6. Finish with Parmesan

Once the chicken and rice are fully cooked, remove the skillet from heat and stir in your grated Parmesan cheese. This is where the dish turns into something truly magical—the cheese melts into the rice, making it creamy and cheesy in the best way.

7. Serve

Finally, sprinkle the chopped parsley over the top and get ready to serve! The parsley adds that little touch of freshness that cuts through the richness.