Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with Citrus and Sage Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

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.

Pan-seared and finished with a bright citrus and sage butter sauce for a fresh and comforting meal. This American Southern-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, kosher salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 American Southern cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
6 fresh sage leaves
2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp orange zest

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and sear for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving, until golden brown and easy to flip.
Step 4: Flip the chicken and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the chicken is cooked through; remove from skillet and keep warm.
Step 5: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 6 fresh sage leaves, and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet; cook, stirring gently, for 1-2 minutes until butter melts and garlic is fragrant.
Step 6: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1 tsp orange zest, letting the sauce bubble and thicken slightly for 30 seconds.
Step 7: Spoon the citrus sage butter sauce over the chicken breasts and serve immediately.