Stovetop Pan-Seared Chicken with Garlic and Thyme

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-19 · Updated 2026-06-19

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.

Pan-seared to a golden crust, infused with fresh garlic and thyme for a fragrant, savory flavor. This American-inspired chicken recipe (high-protein), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, fresh garlic cloves 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: 10 min Serves 2 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

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

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 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 sear without moving for 5 minutes until the underside is deeply golden and crisp.
Step 4: Flip the chicken breasts, add 3 minced garlic cloves and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the pan, then reduce heat to medium.
Step 5: Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter and spoon the melted butter mixed with garlic and thyme over the chicken continuously for 4 minutes until cooked through and juices run clear.
Step 6: Remove chicken and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.