Sautéed Garlic Butter Chicken with Thyme and Lemon

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.

Tender chicken breasts pan-seared in a garlic butter sauce infused with fresh thyme and bright lemon zest for a simple yet flavorful meal. This American-inspired New Year's recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, unsalted butter, 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: 12 min Serves 2 American cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving, until golden brown and edges crisp.
  3. Step 3: Flip the chicken and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves to the pan. Spoon the melted butter and garlic over the chicken continuously for 4-5 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the butter is fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Remove the skillet from heat, stir in 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 tbsp lemon juice, then spoon the sauce over the chicken before serving.

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