Best Chicken Ever Lemon Herb Pan-Seared

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-04 · Updated 2026-04-04

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Juicy chicken breasts marinated in lemon and herbs, seared to golden perfection with a bright pan sauce that's ready in 35 minutes. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, lemon, fresh thyme for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 American cuisine 420 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 (6 oz each) chicken breasts
1 lemon
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pound 4 chicken breasts (6 oz each) to 1/2-inch thickness between parchment paper. Season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer skillet to a preheated 400°F oven and bake for 10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 3: Remove chicken and set aside. Add 2 tbsp butter and the zest of 1 lemon to the skillet, stirring to melt. Add 2 tbsp Dijon mustard and 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping browned bits from the pan.
Step 4: Simmer for 3 minutes until sauce reduces by half and thickens slightly. Squeeze juice from 1 lemon over the sauce and stir to combine.
Step 5: Return chicken to skillet, spooning sauce over top. Garnish with additional fresh thyme and lemon slices before serving.