Pan-Seared Chicken with Middle Eastern Za'atar and Lemon Sauce

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 drafted and published.

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a vibrant lemon and za'atar sauce for a bright Middle Eastern flavor. This Middle Eastern recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, za'atar seasoning, olive oil 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: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 2 Middle Eastern cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp za'atar seasoning.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
  3. Step 3: Remove chicken to a plate and tent with foil. Lower heat to medium and add 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth and 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce reduces slightly.
  5. Step 5: Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, then return the chicken breasts to the pan to coat with sauce for 1 minute.
  6. Step 6: Serve the chicken topped with the lemon-za'atar sauce and garnish with extra parsley if desired.

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