Sautéed Chicken with Garlic-Thyme Butter Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-04 · Updated 2026-07-04

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 developed and reviewed.

Pan-seared and finished with a fragrant garlic and thyme butter sauce. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 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: 15 min Serves 2 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

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

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 chicken breasts 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 5-6 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
Step 3: Remove chicken from skillet and set aside, tented with foil to keep warm.
Step 4: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter to the same skillet. When butter melts and begins to foam, add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant and garlic is lightly golden.
Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and cook for 30 seconds until the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 6: Return chicken to the skillet and spoon the garlic-thyme butter sauce over the top, cooking for an additional 1 minute to coat evenly.
Step 7: Serve chicken breasts drizzled with the sauce and garnish with extra thyme if desired.