Easy Garlic Butter Chicken – A Tender Chicken Breast Recipe for Homemade Dinner
A quick and flavorful garlic butter chicken recipe made with tender chicken breasts seared to perfection in a rich, garlicky butter sauce. Perfect for a homemade family dinner in under 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Meat Thermometer
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter divided
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika optional
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, optional garnish
Instructions
- Prep the chicken – Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and paprika if using.
- Heat the skillet – Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place chicken breasts in the pan.
- Sear the chicken – Cook for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and nearly cooked through.
- Make the garlic butter sauce – Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir gently until the butter melts and garlic becomes fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Baste the chicken – Spoon the garlic butter over the chicken repeatedly until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest and serve – Remove chicken from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with sides of your choice.
Notes
For extra flavor, add fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary to the butter.
This recipe also works with chicken thighs—just adjust cooking time slightly.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3–4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.