This garlic butter chicken is a quick, one-pan dinner made with juicy pan-seared chicken smothered in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. Ready in about 30 minutes, this easy skillet chicken recipe delivers bold flavor with simple ingredients—perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or cozy family dinners.
Ingredients
- Main Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic freshly minced
- Flavor Base
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- Pantry Staples
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup chicken broth
- Optional Finishes
- Fresh parsley chopped
- Lemon juice to taste
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
- Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
- Pound lightly if pieces are thick for even cooking.
- Sear
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add chicken and cook 5–6 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through (165°F).
- Remove chicken and set aside.
- Make Garlic Butter Sauce
- Reduce heat to medium-low.
- Add butter to the skillet.
- Stir in garlic and cook 30–45 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.
- Finish
- Return chicken to the skillet.
- Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer 1–2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and finish with lemon juice or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Always lower the heat before adding garlic to prevent burning.
- Use a thermometer for perfectly juicy chicken.
- Sauce thickens slightly as it rests.