In the rush of a busy week, finding quick chicken dinner ideas that are both delicious and easy can feel like a challenge. Look no further! This 20-Minute Garlic Herb Butter Chicken is the answer to your weeknight dinner prayers. It’s a simple, elegant dish that comes together in one skillet and is packed with flavor. You’ll be amazed at how a few simple ingredients can transform into a meal your whole family will love.
This recipe is designed for those evenings when you’re short on time but still crave a home-cooked meal. It’s one of those essential easy chicken recipes that you’ll return to again and again. Forget takeout; this is faster, healthier, and infinitely more satisfying.
Coated in a luscious garlic herb butter sauce, this chicken is ready to devour.
Why You’ll Love This Quick Chicken Dinner Idea
Incredibly Fast: From prep to plate in just 20 minutes, this is the epitome of a quick chicken dinner.
Pantry Staples: You likely have most, if not all, of these ingredients in your kitchen right now.
One-Pan Wonder: Cleanup is a breeze with just one skillet to wash.
Crowd-Pleaser: The rich garlic butter sauce and tender chicken are a hit with both kids and adults.
Versatile: This recipe is a fantastic base. You can easily customize it with different herbs, spices, or even a splash of wine.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this dish lies in its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need to create this fantastic meal:
Chicken Breasts: Two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness for quick and uniform cooking.
All-Purpose Flour: For a light coating that helps create a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, and garlic powder are all you need to season the chicken perfectly.
Butter & Olive Oil: Using both gives you the rich flavor of butter with the higher smoke point of olive oil, preventing the butter from burning.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is key for a robust, aromatic sauce.
Chicken Broth: This creates the base of the pan sauce, helping to deglaze the skillet and capture all those flavorful bits.
Fresh Herbs: A combination of fresh parsley and thyme adds a bright, savory finish.
Lemon Juice: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end cuts through the richness and brightens up the entire dish.
How to Make This Quick Chicken Dinner
Follow these simple steps to get dinner on the table in record time. It’s one of the most straightforward quick chicken dinner ideas you’ll ever make.
Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel. In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
Sear the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and two tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and foamy, add the chicken breasts. Cook for 4-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Create the Pan Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Finish the Dish: Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for 2-3 minutes, until it has slightly reduced. Stir in the fresh parsley, thyme, and lemon juice. Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the top.
And just like that, you have a restaurant-quality meal ready to serve! This is truly one of those quick chicken dinner ideas that delivers on its promise.
A perfect golden-brown sear is the secret to flavorful chicken.
Tips for the Perfect Skillet Chicken
Even Thickness is Key: Pounding the chicken to an even thickness (about 1/2 inch) is the most important step for ensuring it cooks quickly and evenly.
Don’t Crowd the Pan: Use a skillet large enough to hold the chicken without overlapping. This ensures a beautiful sear rather than steaming the meat.
Use Fresh Ingredients: While dried herbs can work in a pinch, fresh garlic, herbs, and lemon juice will provide the best possible flavor.
Watch the Heat: Keep a close eye on your heat to prevent the garlic from burning when you add it to the pan. A bitter taste is something we want to avoid.
Customization and Variation Ideas
While this recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also incredibly adaptable. Here are a few ideas to make it your own:
Make it Creamy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half into the pan sauce for a richer, creamier consistency.
Spice it Up: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a little bit of heat. For a different flavor profile, consider these sweet and spicy chicken bites.
Wine Pairing: For a more elegant sauce, deglaze the pan with a splash of dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio) before adding the chicken broth.
What to Serve with Garlic Herb Butter Chicken
This quick chicken dinner pairs well with almost anything. Serve it over pasta, rice, or quinoa to soak up the delicious pan sauce. For a lighter meal, pair it with a side of steamed asparagus, roasted broccoli, or a fresh green salad. And don’t forget some crusty garlic butter dinner rolls to mop up every last drop of the sauce!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the chicken in a skillet over low heat with a splash of chicken broth to keep it from drying out. You can also microwave it in short bursts until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions About Quick Chicken Dinners
The quickest way is to pound the chicken breast to an even, thin consistency (about 1/2-inch thick) and pan-sear it in a hot skillet for 4-6 minutes per side. This ensures it cooks through rapidly and evenly.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully. They may take a minute or two longer to cook, so use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
The most reliable way is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken should be 165°F (74°C). Visually, the juices should run clear when pierced.
If you don’t have fresh herbs, you can use dried herbs. A general rule is to use one-third the amount of dried herbs as fresh. For this recipe, use about 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme and 2 teaspoons of dried parsley.
This recipe can easily be part of a healthy meal. It’s high in protein and made with whole ingredients. To keep it on the lighter side, serve it with steamed vegetables or a large salad instead of heavier starches.
More Delicious Dinner Ideas
We hope you love this 20-Minute Garlic Herb Butter Chicken! If you’ve tried it, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We love hearing from you! For more dinner inspiration, be sure to share this recipe on Pinterest.
Get dinner on the table in 20 minutes with this incredible Garlic Herb Butter Chicken!
20-Minute Garlic Herb Butter Chicken Recipe
FL Recipes
Quick Chicken Dinner Ideas: 20-Minute Garlic Herb Butter Chicken
Discover the ultimate quick chicken dinner idea! This 20-Minute Garlic Herb Butter Chicken is a one-pan wonder, perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken in a luscious garlic herb sauce, ready in no time.
2boneless, skinless chicken breastsabout 6 oz each, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
1/4cupall-purpose flour
1/2tspsalt
1/4tspblack pepper
1/4tspgarlic powder
1tbspolive oil
3tbspunsalted butterdivided
4clovesgarlicminced
1/2cuplow-sodium chicken broth
2tbspfresh parsleychopped
1tspfresh thymechopped
1tbspfresh lemon juice
Equipment
1 Large Skillet
1 Meat Mallet
Method
Pat the chicken breasts dry. In a shallow dish, whisk together flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dredge each chicken breast in the mixture, ensuring it's lightly coated.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the olive oil. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate.
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce reduces slightly.
Stir in the chopped parsley, thyme, and fresh lemon juice. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the sauce over them to coat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 410kcalProtein: 42gFat: 22gFiber: 1g
Notes
Make sure to pound the chicken to an even thickness for fast and even cooking. For a richer sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream at the end. Serve immediately with your favorite sides like pasta, rice, or steamed vegetables.
Keyword garlic butter chicken,one pan chicken,quick chicken dinner
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
