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Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

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This easy 15-minute garlic butter chicken recipe is delicious! You’ll love this family favorite stove top chicken recipe that’s coated in garlic butter.

Garlic Butter Chicken Breast

This garlic butter chicken recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights when you need a quick and delicious dinner option. It takes only a few simple ingredients and just 15 minutes of your time.

This recipe really is a game-changer for those busy nights when you don’t have much time to cook but still want to enjoy a homemade meal. Even the pickiest eaters will be asking for seconds.

I love the delicious and aromatic garlic butter sauce that coats the juicy and tender chicken. This easy kid-approved chicken recipe really is one of the best stove top chicken recipes you’ll ever try. My family ate every bite of this recipe, and I’m sure yours will, too!

Serve it over pasta or rice for a complete meal that everyone will love. You can also pair it with a side of green beans, asparagus, or roasted baby potatoes for a lighter meal. I normally make it with my seasoned rice recipe because the two are so delicious together.

If you love quick chicken dinners, be sure to try our honey mustard chicken or this panko chicken.

Ingredients

Chicken: Opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. They cook quickly and evenly, making them perfect for a fast weeknight meal.

I recommend using air chilled chicken breasts if you can. Using air chilled chicken allows the chicken to absorb more flavor, plus the final result will be more moist. Water chilled chicken will release more moisture when it cooks, which can leave you with rubbery chicken.

You could also substitute the chicken breasts with boneless skinless chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand. You’ll need to cook the thighs a bit longer to get to a higher internal temperature though. This allows the fat in the thighs to render and infuse the meat with flavor.

Olive Oil: Olive oil is my favorite oil to sear chicken with, but you’re welcome to substitute it with a neutral flavored cooking oil if you prefer.  

Spices and Herbs: A blend of dried thyme leaves, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper enhances the flavor of the chicken. This simple yet flavorful blend of spices and herbs will elevate the taste of your chicken to a whole new level.

The thyme, garlic, and onion pair really well with poultry. Adding salt to the dish enhances the flavor, and pepper adds a bit of spice to balance out the fat.

If you enjoy a more spicy flavor try adding some red chili pepper flakes to the garlic sauce for an extra kick of heat!

Chicken Broth: Using chicken broth instead of water adds depth of flavor to the garlic butter sauce. It’s also used to deglaze the pan and create a base for the garlic butter sauce. Deglazing helps to loosen any bits of chicken and spices that may be stuck to the pan, which adds even more flavor to the sauce.

Butter: Butter gives the garlic sauce the perfect rich taste. It adds a creamy and savory element to the sauce.

Garlic: Use a combination of garlic powder and fresh garlic to get a delicious and strong garlic flavor. Minced garlic is really the star ingredient that gives this dish its signature flavor.

The labeled ingredients for garlic butter chicken.

How To Make Easy Garlic Chicken

To a medium mixing bowl add the olive oil, dried thyme leaves, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper. Mix together until everything is combined. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)

Mixing the oil and spices together in a large mixing bowl.

Carefully filet the chicken breast, then add the chicken to the bowl with the oil and spice blend. Coat the chicken evenly in the seasoned olive oil.

Butterflying the chicken breasts all the way through before coating in the oil blend.

Heat a nonstick skillet. Once the pan is hot, sear the seasoned chicken on both sides. Once cooked to an internal temperature of 165F, transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside. Add the chicken broth and butter to the skillet. Stir until the butter is melted. Once the butter has melted, add the fresh minced garlic and dried parsley to the pan. Saute until aromatic.

Melting in the butter in a hot skillet then adding in seasonings and broth.

Add the cooked chicken breasts to the pan. Coat the chicken in the garlic sauce, then transfer it to a serving plate. Drizzle with any remaining sauce.

Cooking the garlic until aromatic then adding the cooked chicken breasts back to the pan.

Try serving it with my slow cooker green beans recipe and some roasted baby potatoes. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.

Overhead shot of fully cooked garlic butter chicken breasts in a large cast iron skillet.

What Is The Secret To Moist Chicken?

The secret to pan frying chicken so that it’s moist is using a meat thermometer because it makes it easy to avoid overcooking. As soon as it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F at the thickest part of the breast, take it off the heat to ensure perfectly juicy chicken. It’s also important to sear the chicken breasts quickly over medium-high heat to lock in the juices.

Do You Add Garlic Before Or After Chicken? 

It’s best to cook the chicken first because it takes longer to cook than garlic does. Add the garlic after the chicken has been cooked and removed from the pan. Garlic only takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes to become aromatic and can burn quickly after that, so it’s important to add it later in the cooking process.

Garlic butter chicken plated with fluffy seasoned rice to the side.

Can I Use Pre-Minced Garlic?

I wouldn’t recommend using jarred garlic because the flavor is so much better with fresh garlic. If you’d rather use it because it’s quicker and easier, go ahead! The flavor just won’t “wow” in the same way.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs?

Yes, you can! Just make sure to use boneless and skinless chicken thighs. I also like to cook them a bit longer and to a higher internal temperature so the fat renders and the crust gets crispy.

What Sides To Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken

Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this are sauteed asparagus, roasted baby potatoes, and Italian green beans. Serving it with pasta (like fettuccine, linguine, or gnocchi) and a vegetable side dish makes an easy family favorite dinner.

Keep In Touch

I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime

Pin this recipe for later!

A Pinterest pin image with a picture of garlic butter chicken, with title text at the top.

Stove Top Chicken Recipes

If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our quick and easy chicken breast recipes! Some reader favorites are:

Yield: 4 servings

BEST Garlic Butter Chicken (15-Minute Stovetop Recipe)

The best garlic butter chicken recipe.

This easy 15-minute garlic butter chicken recipe is delicious! You’ll love this family favorite stove top chicken recipe.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken:

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 chicken breasts)

Garlic Sauce:

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup butter (56 grams)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley

Instructions

  1. To a medium mixing bowl, add the olive oil, dried thyme leaves, garlic powder, onion powder, fine sea salt, and ground black pepper. Mix together.
  2. Carefully butterfly the chicken breasts all the way through so you have even filets. Add the chicken to the oil and spice blend and coat evenly.
  3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the seasoned chicken breasts to the pan and let sear for 4 minutes without moving. Then flip the chicken over and sear for another 3 minutes (chicken should read 165F internally at the thickest part on an instant read thermometer). Turn the heat down to medium, transfer the chicken breasts from the skillet to a clean plate while you make the garlic sauce. 
  4. Add the chicken broth to the pan, then the butter. Let the butter melt while you mix it with the broth.
  5. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and dried parsley. Mix and saute until aromatic (about 1-2 minutes). Add the chicken breasts back to the pan. Flip them to coat in the garlic sauce. 
  6. Transfer the chicken to the plates you’re serving them on, then spoon over any remaining garlic sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1/4

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 469Total Fat: 24.6gCarbohydrates: 2.4gFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.2gProtein: 60.6g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

Tag @KeyToMyLime on Instagram so we can see your delicious meal!

Don’t forget to try this amazing garlic butter chicken recipe the next time you’re in need of a quick, delicious, and satisfying meal. You won’t be disappointed!

The best garlic butter chicken recipe.

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