Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Chicken with Muskegon Herb Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-08-04 · Updated 2026-08-04

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.

Juicy pan-seared chicken breasts infused with garlic and lemon, topped with a fragrant herb butter inspired by Muskegon’s fresh local flavors. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs chicken breasts, olive oil, garlic cloves 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: 15 min Serves 2 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

2 pieces (6 oz each) chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp, finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup water

Know when the chicken is done: thermometers under $100 → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

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 minutes without moving until golden brown on the bottom.
Step 3: Flip chicken and add 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 1/4 cup water to the pan. Cover and cook for 6-7 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
Step 4: Remove chicken to a plate and lower heat to medium. Stir in 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley, and 1 tbsp finely chopped thyme into the pan juices until melted and fragrant.
Step 5: Spoon the herb butter sauce over the chicken and serve immediately, enjoying the bright lemon and fresh herb flavors inspired by the Muskegon region.