Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic Thyme Sauce

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

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a fragrant garlic thyme butter sauce. This chicken recipe, ready in about 25 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.

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
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 3 fresh thyme sprigs

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this chicken with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. 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.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving, until golden brown. Flip and cook another 5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
3. Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the skillet. Continuously spoon the melted butter and garlic thyme mixture over the chicken for 2 minutes until the sauce is fragrant and slightly thickened.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Spoon the garlic thyme butter sauce over before serving.