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Weeknight Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Weeknight Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe


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4.8 from 17 reviews

  • Total Time: 25-31 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Garlic butter chicken delivers a mouthwatering dinner solution that will become your family’s new favorite weeknight meal. Crispy, golden chicken breasts swimming in a rich, herby butter sauce make dinner feel special without hours of complicated preparation.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Protein:

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Seasoning:

  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 8 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Flatten 4 chicken breasts to ½-inch thickness between plastic wrap using a meat mallet, creating uniform cooking surfaces.
  2. Blend 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
  3. Dust both sides of chicken breasts thoroughly with seasoning mixture, gently pressing spices into meat.
  4. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375F for 2-3 minutes until oil shimmers.
  5. Arrange chicken breasts in skillet without crowding, cooking 5-6 minutes on first side until golden brown.
  6. Flip chicken and cook opposite side for 4-5 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165F.
  7. Transfer chicken to a clean plate, keeping pan drippings intact.
  8. Reduce skillet heat to medium, melting ½ cup butter slowly for 1-2 minutes.
  9. Add 8 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 45-60 seconds until aromatic.
  10. Pour ¼ cup chicken broth and 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice into skillet, scraping browned bits from bottom.
  11. Simmer sauce for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  12. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped parsley and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
  13. Return chicken to skillet, coating generously with garlic butter sauce.
  14. Warm chicken in sauce for additional 1-2 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Pound chicken evenly to ensure consistent cooking and tender meat that absorbs seasonings perfectly.
  • Avoid overcrowding the skillet to get beautiful golden-brown searing and prevent steaming instead of browning.
  • Choose fresh garlic for the most vibrant flavor, and mince it finely to distribute evenly throughout the sauce.
  • For a lower-carb version, replace chicken broth with white wine or extra lemon juice to maintain moisture and depth of flavor.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-21 minutes
  • Category: Sautéed
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 406 kcal
  • Sugar: 0.5 g
  • Sodium: 290 mg
  • Fat: 30 g
  • Saturated Fat: 15 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 3 g
  • Fiber: 0.4 g
  • Protein: 32 g
  • Cholesterol: 125 mg