Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with Thyme and Parsley Pan Sauce
Tender chicken breasts pan-seared and finished with a shallot pan sauce of fresh thyme and parsley, deglazed with chicken broth and lemon. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 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.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp finely diced shallots
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
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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 dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides 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. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes on the first side until golden brown and edges are crispy.
- Step 3: Flip chicken breasts and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter to the pan. Continue cooking for 4-5 minutes while spooning melted butter over the chicken until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F, then remove chicken to rest.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp finely diced shallots and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and shallots are translucent.
- Step 5: Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth and scrape the browned bits from the pan bottom. Simmer for 3 minutes until sauce reduces and slightly thickens.
- Step 6: Stir in 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Cook for 1 minute until herbs are fragrant and sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 7: Spoon the herb pan sauce over the rested chicken breasts and serve immediately.








