Description
Looking for a quick and flavorful chicken dinner? This Quick Garlic Butter Chicken is your new go-to for weeknight meals. Juicy chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and smothered in a garlic butter sauce—perfect for spooning over mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables. It’s a comforting, satisfying, and easy recipe that checks all the boxes for a busy home cook. Great for easy dinners, simple food ideas, and even healthy-ish meal prep.
Ingredients
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
0.5 teaspoon paprika
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic minced
0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Juice of 0.5 lemon
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken breasts dry. Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear 5–6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
3. Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, stir in garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add lemon juice and parsley to the butter. Stir and simmer 1 minute.
5. Return the chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over top and simmer 2–3 minutes to reheat and coat evenly.
6. Garnish with more parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Pound chicken breasts to even thickness to ensure even cooking.
Don’t overcook the garlic—just sauté until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
Add a splash of chicken broth when reheating leftovers to keep them juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg