Stovetop Lemon-Thyme Chicken with Garlic Butter 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 developed and reviewed.

Pan-seared with fresh lemon and thyme, finished in a rich garlic butter sauce. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, salt, black pepper 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 and season evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper on both sides.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes on the first side without moving until golden brown.
  3. Step 3: Flip chicken, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 4 fresh thyme sprigs to the pan. Cook for 5-6 minutes more, spooning melted butter over the chicken occasionally, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  4. Step 4: Remove chicken to a plate and cover loosely with foil. Lower heat to medium, stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tsp lemon zest into the pan juices, cooking for 1 minute until sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Pour the garlic butter sauce over the chicken, sprinkle 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and serve immediately.