Description
Garlic Butter Chicken is a rich, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a delicious garlic butter sauce. This easy-to-make recipe offers a perfect balance of savory, buttery, and garlicky flavors, making it an ideal meal for a busy weeknight or a special dinner. Serve it with rice, mashed potatoes, or a side salad to complete your meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or fresh thyme (optional)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional, for added brightness)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Lemon wedges (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken:
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. If the chicken breasts are thick, consider slicing them in half horizontally for faster cooking.
- Cook the chicken:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Make the garlic butter sauce:
- In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter and let it melt. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until fragrant and golden (be careful not to burn the garlic).
- Add seasonings:
- Stir in the thyme, oregano, and lemon juice (if using). Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, which will add flavor to the sauce.
- Combine chicken and sauce:
- Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the garlic butter sauce over the chicken. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes, ensuring the chicken is coated and heated through.
- Serve:
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired. Pair with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- If you want extra sauce, you can double the amount of butter and garlic in the recipe.
- You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts for a juicier option.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of heat.
- To make this dish low-carb, serve with vegetables like steamed broccoli or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American