Sautéed Chicken with Thyme and Black Pepper Pan 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.

Seared and finished with a savory pan sauce featuring fresh thyme and cracked black pepper for a thoughtful, understated flavor. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, fresh thyme sprigs 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Mediterranean cuisine 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp cracked black pepper.
  2. 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 one side.
  3. Step 3: Flip the chicken breasts, add 3 fresh thyme sprigs and 2 tbsp unsalted butter, and spoon the melted butter over the chicken as it cooks for another 5 minutes until cooked through and juices run clear.
  4. Step 4: Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside to rest. Lower heat to medium and add 2 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Step 5: Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits, and simmer until sauce reduces by half and thickens slightly, about 3 minutes.
  6. Step 6: Return chicken to the skillet, spoon sauce over the top, and serve immediately with pan sauce drizzled.

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