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Garlic butter chicken uses a handful of basic ingredients that cook down into a savory butter sauce. It’s quick and easy — perfect for busy weeknights — and my favorite twist on classic pan seared chicken breast. Once you try this garlic butter chicken breast recipe, you’ll want to make it over and over again.

This is one of my go-to easy chicken recipes. Not only is it gluten-free and protein-rich, but it even creates a savory garlic butter sauce from the same pan, so cleanup is a breeze. Just like chicken florentine, creamy marry me chicken, and salsa chicken, garlic butter chicken recipes can go from the stovetop to the tabletop in minutes.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for this garlic butter chicken recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

• Chicken – This garlic chicken recipe uses boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can make it with boneless chicken thighs as well.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For basic seasoning on the chicken.
• Dried Herbs – Including dried thyme, dried oregano, dried rosemary, and dried parsley. You could also simply substitute Italian seasoning instead.
• Olive Oil – Helps butter cook at higher temperatures without taking on a burnt taste.
• Butter – I almost always prefer unsalted butter so that I can control the salt content, but any variety on hand will work. Use less salt on the chicken if you use salted butter.
• Chicken Broth – Use prepared chicken broth to save time, or substitute homemade bone broth.
• Garlic – Mince it fresh for the most mouthwatering garlic butter sauce for chicken, or get jarred minced garlic to save time. Since the garlic is the star of the sauce, I don’t recommend substituting garlic powder.

How To Make Garlic Butter Chicken

This section shows how to make butter garlic chicken breast, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Season. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and dried herbs.
2. Sear. In a large skillet, heat the oil and add chicken in a single layer. Sear on both sides until golden and fully cooked. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

1. Deglaze. Add butter and chicken broth to the pan and scrape the flavorful bits up with a wooden spoon.
2. Add. Reduce heat to low and saute garlic until fragrant.

1. Finish. Return the chicken breasts to the pan, flip them to coat them in sauce and warm until heated through. Spoon sauce over garlic butter chicken when serving.

Tips For The Best Garlic Butter Chicken

These easy tips guarantee that this garlic butter chicken recipe will be a requested family favorite over and over again!

• Keep the meat dry. Pat chicken dry thoroughly with a clean paper towel so the seasonings adhere properly.
• Heat well before searing. Make sure the oil is heated enough to sear the outside of the chicken, otherwise the chicken will just soak up the oil. If the oil sputters when you flick a little water in it, it’s ready to use.
• Soften butter. Room temperature butter will melt more quickly and evenly than solid pieces.
• Test temperature. Always test for doneness using a meat thermometer. Chicken should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Variations

• Try different cuts of chicken – Instead of chicken breast, try chicken thighs. Or, slice chicken breast into strips or bite-sized pieces before cooking (this will reduce cooking time).
• Switch the seasonings – Substitute the herb blend in this recipe with equal parts of your favorite seasoning mix or try lemon garlic chicken instead.
• Upgrade your broth – Substitute dry white wine for chicken broth (in part, or altogether). Add it to the pan carefully when deglazing.
• Add extra garnishes – Try assorted fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice, or red pepper flakes on this garlic chicken recipe for an extra burst of flavor.

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Warm leftover garlic butter chicken in the microwave on medium power until just heated through, then transfer to the sauce in a pan until hot (this keeps the chicken from overcooking and the sauce from burning). You can also bake in the oven at 350 degrees F, covered in foil to prevent drying out.
• Freeze: Place portions in freezer bags and freeze for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.

What To Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken

Garlic butter chicken pairs with almost anything! Here are a few of my favorite dishes to serve with it.

• Easy Mashes – Try mashed sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, or mashed cauliflower for a classic pairing.
• Rice Or Noodles – Make classic rice or pasta, or make zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, or spaghetti squash in the oven.
• Roasted Veggies – While the garlic chicken recipe cooks in the pan, prep smashed brussels sprouts, baked ratatouille, oven roasted mushrooms, or roasted asparagus.
• Simple Salads – This chicken tastes great with creamy cucumber salad, spring mix salad, or a classic wedge salad.

More One Pan Chicken Breast Recipes

Take chicken from ordinary to extraordinary with these other delicious one-pan recipes:

• Lemon Parmesan Chicken
• Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken
• Pan Seared Chicken Breast
• Mediterranean Chicken

 

Recipe Card

 

 

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Garlic Butter Chicken (Easy 20-Minute Dinner!)

This easy garlic butter chicken recipe is a weeknight fave! Make perfect chicken breast with butter, garlic, and herbs, in just 20 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ingredients

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Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and dried herbs.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear for per side, until golden and cooked through. (Reduce heat to medium if it starts to brown too much.) Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm.

3. Add the butter and chicken broth to the pan. As the butter melts, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to deglaze.

4. Reduce heat to low. Add the garlic and saute for about , until fragrant.

5. Return the chicken to the pan. Flip once or twice to coat in sauce. If needed, heat for , until warm.

6. Serve garlic butter chicken with the pan juices spooned over it.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 chicken breast with sauce

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 372

Fat 17.9g

Protein 48.8g

Total Carbs 1.8g

Net Carbs 1.5g

Fiber 0.3g

Sugar 0.2g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

 

 

 

 

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