Pan-Seared Chicken with Lemon and Fresh Thyme Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-03 · Updated 2026-08-03

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 drafted and published.

Pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a bright, herbaceous lemon and fresh thyme sauce. This chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, olive oil, salt 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 International cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 pieces, about 6 oz each chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 fresh thyme sprigs
2 cloves, minced garlic cloves
3 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp unsalted butter

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts and season both sides evenly 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 until shimmering, then add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
Step 3: Remove chicken from pan and set aside on a warm plate. Lower heat to medium and add 2 minced garlic cloves and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the skillet, sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Pour in 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the pan; cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce slightly reduces.
Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp unsalted butter until melted and the sauce is glossy, then spoon over chicken breasts and serve immediately.