Quick Garlic Butter Chicken Delight
A simple, satisfying garlic butter chicken recipe that comes together in 15 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. Juicy chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and finished with a silky garlic butter sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thin-cut or sliced horizontally if thick)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If thick, slice horizontally to about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Let it melt and foam.
- Add chicken breasts in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook without moving for 3–4 minutes until golden brown on the underside. Flip and cook the other side for 3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium. Push chicken to the side and add minced garlic to the butter. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Add lemon juice. Let sauce simmer for 1–2 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly.
- Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter until melted and sauce is silky. Spoon sauce over chicken.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley over the top and serve immediately.
Notes
Keep garlic moving in the pan to prevent burning. If chicken is thick and undercooked, cover loosely for a minute to finish cooking. Avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure a good sear. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil or plant-based margarine and use dairy-free broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 4 ounc
- Calories: 280
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 20
Keywords: garlic butter chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight meal, 15-minute dinner, simple chicken, garlic chicken