Description
This Garlic Butter Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection in a rich and flavorful garlic butter sauce. Enhanced with lemon, Italian seasoning, and fresh parsley, it’s a quick and delicious skillet meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon wedges (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to build foundational flavor.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the hot skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes per side until they develop a golden brown crust and are fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add 3 tablespoons of butter to the pan. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic.
- Make Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, stirring to combine with the buttery garlic. Allow the sauce to simmer for 2-3 minutes so it reduces slightly, intensifying the flavor.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the dried Italian seasoning, mixing until the sauce becomes smooth and well blended.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the sauce generously over them. Simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes to let the chicken absorb the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top of the chicken and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side if desired for a bright citrus finish.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken with seasoning for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Ensure not to overcook chicken breasts to keep them juicy and tender.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a slightly different flavor.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or in a microwave.
