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Chicken Breast

30-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken Breast

Juicy, golden-seared chicken breast finished in the oven with a simple garlic butter pan sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Calories: 310
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 6-7 oz each
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme optional
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon optional

Method
 

  1. Pound chicken to an even 3/4-inch thickness.
  2. Pat dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Sear in olive oil over medium-high heat, 4-5 minutes per side, until golden.
  4. Add butter, garlic, and thyme to the pan; transfer skillet to a 400°F oven for 6-9 minutes.
  5. Check with a meat thermometer; remove at 165°F.
  6. Baste with pan butter, rest 5 minutes, add lemon juice if using, and slice against the grain.
    7. Use an oven-safe skillet (cast iron or stainless steel) so you can go straight from stovetop to oven. Pounding the chicken to an even thickness helps it cook evenly and stay juicy. Don't skip the 5-minute rest, it keeps the juices in the chicken.

Notes

Food safety note: wash your hands, cutting board, and any utensils that touched raw chicken with hot soapy water before they touch anything else, and never put cooked chicken back on the same plate that held it raw.