Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic Herb Butter and Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-28 · Updated 2026-04-28

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 developed and reviewed.

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a fragrant garlic herb butter and bright lemon zest for a vibrant, savory meal. This chicken recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs boneless 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 350 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: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 International cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

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

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving, until the edges turn golden and crispy.
Step 4: Flip the chicken breasts and cook for another 5 minutes on the second side until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
Step 5: Reduce heat to medium-low and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, and 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley to the pan.
Step 6: Spoon the melted butter mixture continuously over the chicken for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and the garlic softens.
Step 7: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 tbsp lemon juice, then spoon the buttery sauce over the chicken before serving.