Pan-Seared Chicken with Herb-Infused Lemon Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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.

Juicy chicken thighs cooked in a simple lemon-butter sauce with fresh herbs, ready in 40 minutes with minimal cleanup for busy weeknights. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, olive oil, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, 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: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 American cuisine 380 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 1 lb chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 10 minutes without moving until skin is golden brown and crisp.
  3. Step 3: Flip chicken and cook for 5 more minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
  4. Step 4: Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp chopped thyme to the skillet, stirring until butter melts. Add 1 tbsp lemon zest and 2 tbsp lemon juice, then simmer for 2 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Return chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over top. Cook for 1 minute to reheat and absorb flavors, then serve immediately.

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