Pan-Seared Chicken with Spiced Star Anise 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 pan-seared chicken breasts served with a fragrant star anise infused sauce, blending warmth and depth for a comforting meal. This Chinese-inspired St. Patrick’s Day recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, salt, black pepper 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 Chinese cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  3. Step 3: Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 inch thinly sliced ginger, and 2 whole star anise pods. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Pour in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Stir to dissolve sugar and simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens to a glaze consistency.
  5. Step 5: Return chicken to the pan, spoon sauce over, and cook for another 2 minutes to coat.
  6. Step 6: Garnish with 2 sliced scallions before serving hot.

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