Best Pan-Seared Chicken with Lemon Herbs

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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.

Perfectly golden, juicy chicken breasts topped with a bright lemon-herb sauce, making it the best chicken dish you'll ever make. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, salt, black pepper 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: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/2-inch thickness. Season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then dust with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
  3. Step 3: Remove chicken from skillet and set aside. Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 1 lemon zest, and 1 lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for 1 minute until the butter melts and the sauce is fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves and 2 tbsp fresh parsley, then return the chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and cook for 1 minute to reheat.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with the sauce spooned over the top.

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