The Best Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with Lemon-Herb Butter

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.

Juicy chicken breasts with a golden crust, finished with a vibrant lemon-herb butter that elevates weeknight dinners to restaurant quality. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs boneless chicken breasts, extra-virgin olive oil, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 American cuisine 380 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook undisturbed for 5 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook for 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  3. Step 3: Transfer chicken to a plate, leaving pan drippings. Add 3 tbsp butter, minced garlic, and 1 tbsp thyme to the skillet; cook 1 minute until fragrant, then stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice.
  4. Step 4: Pour lemon-herb sauce over chicken and let sit for 2 minutes to absorb flavors before serving.

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