Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic and Lemon-Thyme Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a bright garlic and lemon-thyme sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired no-cook recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, garlic cloves 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
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts dry and season both sides 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.
2. Step 2: Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving, until golden brown, then flip and cook another 5 minutes until cooked through and juices run clear.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves to the pan. Spoon the melted butter and sauce over the chicken while cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and sauce slightly thickens.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken from skillet, let rest for 3 minutes, then serve drizzled with the garlic-lemon-thyme sauce.