Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic Butter and Sautéed Spinach
Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection and topped with a rich garlic butter sauce served alongside vibrant sautéed spinach. This chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs skinless chicken breasts, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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 (6 oz each) skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4, thinly sliced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 6 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes
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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 skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and garlic is lightly golden, stirring frequently.
- Step 4: Add 6 cups fresh spinach and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until spinach is wilted and tender.
- Step 5: Return chicken to the skillet, drizzle with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and spoon garlic butter over the top. Cook for another minute to combine flavors before serving.








