Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic and Herb Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-04-25

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.

Juicy chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a fragrant garlic and herb butter sauce that elevates every bite. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 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 390 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 cuisine 390 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 pieces (6 oz each) chicken breasts
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Step 2: Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook without moving for 6 minutes until the underside is golden brown and releases easily. Flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves to the skillet. Continuously spoon the melted butter and garlic over the chicken for 2 minutes until fragrant and the butter sauce thickens slightly.
Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat, stir in 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley and 1 tbsp lemon juice, then spoon the garlic-herb butter sauce over the chicken before serving.