Sautéed Garlic Chicken with Zesty Lemon and Thyme
Sautéed with fresh garlic, lemon zest, and thyme create a bright and flavorful main dish perfect for weeknight dinners. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless 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 280 calories and feeds 4, 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon zest
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving until golden brown and edges are crispy.
- Step 4: Flip the chicken and add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp fresh lemon zest, and 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves to the pan. Sauté with the chicken for another 5 minutes, spooning the garlic and herbs over the chicken to infuse flavor.
- Step 5: Pour 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice over the chicken, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 2 more minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the sauce slightly thickens.







