Pan-Seared Smoked Paprika Chicken with Lemon

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-15 · Updated 2026-04-15

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.

Coated in smoky paprika and garlic, finished with a bright lemon-garlic pan sauce that complements the rich spice. This French-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 24 minutes, pairs boneless chicken breasts, smoked paprika, garlic powder for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 3, 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: 14 min Serves 3 French cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

3, 1-inch thick boneless chicken breasts
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp olive oil
1, zested and juiced fresh lemon
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp dried thyme

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub both sides with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp salt.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 3: Remove chicken and set aside. Add lemon zest, juice, chicken broth, and thyme to the skillet. Simmer for 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Return chicken to skillet and coat with sauce, cooking for 2 more minutes.