Pan-Seared Chicken with Smoky Paprika and Caramelized Onions
Juicy chicken breasts pan-seared with smoky paprika and topped with sweet caramelized onions for a flavorful, comforting meal. This French recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, smoked paprika, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each). Season both sides with 2 tsp smoked paprika, 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. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove chicken and keep warm.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 thinly sliced large yellow onion. Sauté the onions for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and caramelized.
- Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves to the onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, then return the chicken to the skillet, spooning the onion mixture over the top. Cook for another 2 minutes to meld flavors before serving.






