Pan-Seared Chicken with Shallot Thyme Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

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.

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a fragrant shallot and fresh thyme butter sauce. This French chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, olive oil, and unsalted butter 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 "Build a week of meals around this recipe" 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 French cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

2 pieces (6 oz each) chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 medium shallot, finely minced
2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup chicken broth

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper on both sides.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes on the first side until golden brown, then flip and cook for another 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken and set aside.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet along with 1 finely minced shallot and 2 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant and shallots are translucent.
Step 4: Stir in 1/4 cup chicken broth and 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 5: Return chicken to the skillet and spoon the shallot thyme butter sauce over the top. Cook for an additional minute to warm through before serving.