Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary
Tender chicken breasts seared in a bright lemon-garlic sauce with fragrant thyme and rosemary, finished with a hint of white wine. This general-inspired chicken ready in about 30 minutes pairs (6 oz each) chicken breasts, tablespoons olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each) chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 4 chicken breasts (6 oz each) dry and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and cook 5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
- Step 2: Reduce heat to medium. Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 1/4 cup dry white wine, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Step 3: Return chicken to skillet, nestling it in the sauce. Add 1 teaspoon fresh thyme and 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary. Cook 3 minutes, turning chicken occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes. Slice chicken and serve with pan sauce.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (15 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (6 oz each) chicken breasts from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Thyme and Rosemary?
General chicken like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
My partner, who's usually picky, absolutely loved this.
- ★★★★★
Doubled the garlic (as one does) and it was amazing.
- ★★★★★
Best recipe I've made this month.