Best Pan-Seared Chicken with Herb Butter
Juicy, golden-brown chicken breasts finished with a herb-infused butter sauce that makes every bite feel like a gourmet experience. The perfect 'best' weeknight dinner. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless chicken breasts, all-purpose flour, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 2, 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.
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz each) boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 (2 oz), finely minced shallot
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 2 boneless chicken breasts (6 oz each) dry with paper towels. Season both sides with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, pressing gently to adhere.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F, then transfer to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add remaining 2 tbsp butter to the skillet. Stir in 1 finely minced shallot and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Add 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves and cook for 30 seconds until aromatic.
- Step 4: Pour in 1/4 cup chicken stock and 1 tbsp lemon juice, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 3 minutes until sauce reduces by half. Return chicken to skillet, spooning sauce over top, and cook for 2 minutes more until heated through.









