This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
If you love rich garlic butter, this saucy garlic butter chicken is the dinner for you! Tender chicken breasts are cooked with a fabulous garlic butter sauce jazzed up with fresh thyme and lemon.
Garlic butter chicken is the kind of dish that makes you feel like you should maybe quit your job and open up a restaurant (kind of like my Easy Garlic Butter Steak Bites). It’s rich, flavorful, tender, and just all around perfect—and the flavors feel like they came straight out of a restaurant kitchen. Your family will be in awe of your culinary prowess.
Just don’t clue them in on how flipping easy this recipe is to make. This Garlic butter chicken recipe is so simple that even if you’ve burned toast in the past (no judgment here), you’ll nail it, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
But let’s go back to the taste, which is out of this world. The chicken is perfectly tender and juicy, soaking up the garlic butter sauce along with a hint of fresh thyme and lemon. Be sure to pair it with some mashed potatoes or crusty bread to soak up every last drop of that garlic butter sauce!
Ingredients for Garlic Butter Chicken
Here’s a quick rundown of the simple ingredients you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – Boneless chicken breasts are the main protein in the dish, they cook quickly with very little prep needed. If you want to make garlic chicken bites, you can cut the chicken breasts into 1 inch pieces.
- Seasonings – Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Olive Oil and Butter – A combination that adds richness and helps achieve a golden, flavorful crust on the chicken while keeping it moist.
For the Sauce:
- Butter – Salted butter is the base for creating a silky, flavorful sauce.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic adds a punch of flavor; mince it finely for even distribution throughout the sauce.
- Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce. You can use flour as an alternative if you’d like.
- Chicken Stock – Homemade Chicken Stock or low-sodium store-bought chicken broth work best.
- Lemon – You’ll need both the juice and zest.
- Garlic Powder – Enhances the garlic flavor without overpowering the dish.
- Fresh Thyme – Brings a subtle, earthy aroma. I think rosemary would also work well if you have it on hand.
- Salt and Pepper – Essential for seasoning and making sure the flavor is perfect!
- Parsley – Use as a garnish for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for full printable instructions.
- Prepare. Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Cook the chicken. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken in the skillet with the oil and butter. Cook over medium-high until both sides are golden brown and the chicken registers 165˚F on an instant read thermometer. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
- Make the sauce. Turn the heat to medium-low and melt the butter. Add the garlic; cook 30 seconds. Stir in the cornstarch and cook 30 seconds more. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the chicken stock until thickened scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits. Stir in the lemon juice and zest. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Finish. Stir in the garlic powder and fresh herbs, then season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked chicken breasts to the garlic sauce and cook for 4-5 minutes more, then serve.
This Cast Iron Skillet from Lodge is my favorite cookware. A true workhorse in the kitchen, this pan is priced under $30. A must have in your cooking arsenal.
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
Tips for Making Garlic Butter Chicken
Follow these additional pointers for a perfect chicken dinner!
- Pat the chicken dry. Ensure the chicken is blotted dry with a paper towel before seasoning. This step helps achieve a nice sear and prevents excess moisture from steaming the chicken.
- Don’t crowd the pan. Sear the chicken in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the skillet. Overcrowding can cause steaming instead of searing. Steamed chicken is not delicious!
- Check the internal temperature. Always use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to 165°F internally for safe (and tender!) results.
Variations and Substitutions.
You can easily switch things up in this easy garlic butter chicken with one of these variations.
- Use chicken thighs. If you prefer dark meat, swap out the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Just note that you may need to adjust cooking times accordingly because thighs take a bit longer to cook.
- Add some spice. For a kick of heat, sprinkle some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper on the chicken when seasoning.
- Make it creamy. Stir in a splash of heavy cream at the end with the lemon juice and zest for a richer sauce.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Leftover garlic butter chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you’d like to freeze it, transfer the chicken and sauce to a freezer-safe container or bag; it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
Reheat the chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken stock or water to the pan to loosen the sauce if it has thickened in the refrigerator. Heat until warmed through. The microwave also works, but it’s less ideal and more likely to make your chicken rubbery or dry.
What to Serve With Garlic Butter Chicken
- The Best Rice Pilaf
- How to Make Microwave Baked Potatoes
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- How to Make Cauliflower Rice Three Ways
- Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Garlic Parmesan Baked Asparagus
More Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Katsu
- French Onion Chicken
- Grilled Chicken Spiedini
- Baked Chicken Tenders
- BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Honey Chipotle BBQ Grilled Chicken Thighs
For more easy dinner ideas, follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- 1 skillet
Ingredients
- 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 tablespoon kosher Salt
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ¼ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
For the Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 ¾ cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Parsley chopped, for garnish (Optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and arrange on a plate. Season both sides of the chicken evenly with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Place the chicken in the skillet and cook until golden brown, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and sear on the opposite side. Continue to cook until the chicken is golden and registers 165˚F on an instant read thermometer.
- Transfer the chicken to a platter and keep warm.
- Turn the heat to medium low and add the butter to the pan.
- Once melted, stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle the cornstarch in the pan and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Turn the heat to low and whisk in the chicken stock continuing to whisk until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest.
- Continue to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Stir in the garlic powder and chopped thyme. Continue to stir until the sauce is smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Return the chicken to the pan and cook on low for 5 minutes until the chicken is warmed through.
- Serve immediately with the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
