Pan-Seared Chicken with Thyme and Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared to golden perfection, infused with fresh thyme and finished with a rich garlic butter sauce. This chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, unsalted butter 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.

Ingredients

• 2 pieces (6 oz each) skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The instant-read thermometer we’d check this chicken with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly on both sides.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the chicken breasts; sear for 5 minutes without moving until golden brown on the bottom.
3. Step 3: Flip chicken breasts and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 fresh thyme sprigs, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Tilt the pan and spoon the melted butter over the chicken continuously for 4-5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the garlic is fragrant.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes, spooning pan butter over the top before serving.