Garlic Butter Chicken

This easy Garlic Butter Chicken recipe is a wholesome, comforting, economical, and classic chicken dinner. All you need is a handful of common ingredients, and about 20 minutes, for deliciously juicy and tender restaurant-quality chicken with a golden exterior that everyone will love.

Nothing beats an easy homemade garlicky chicken with butter recipe. One of my favorite parts of making it is having the delicious aromas fill the house. It’s packed with flavor, and the garlic butter sauce elevates the dish to a whole new level! 

The simple combination of butter, garlic, and chicken stock creates a rich and savory sauce that perfectly complements the juicy chicken breasts.

This chicken with butter recipe is simple, inexpensive, and requires little to no preparation, but the outcome is juicy, perfectly cooked chicken with golden-brown skin that’s buttery-crisp. It is healthy, comforting, and no fuss, because it is prepared in a single pan and requires little cleanup.

Why this Chicken with Butter Recipe is So Popular

• • Quick and easy: You only need about 20 minutes to prepare this butter garlic chicken breast, and there is no additional breading or dredging process needed. It’s also easy to clean up because I can make the sauce in the same pan. So this recipe is the best option for busy midweek or hectic weeknight dinners! 
  • Simple, affordable ingredients: Made with just a few ingredients you most likely already have in your kitchen! And the cost per serving is incredibly low. 
  • Tender, juicy chicken: As written, this is an amazing chicken with butter recipe, but read the recipe notes and tips for guaranteed tender chicken.
  • Flavorful garlic butter sauce: This dish is all about the sauce! This sauce is rich, buttery, and garlicky.
  • Great for leftovers: If you have any leftovers, just store them in the fridge and use them for leftovers or meal prep. Or make a larger batch and freeze for easy chicken dinners.
  • Gluten-free and keto: This dish is also naturally gluten-free and low in carbs. Be sure to use gluten-free chicken stock.

Chicken with Butter Recipe Ingredients

• Chicken Breast: Although I typically use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you may also use boneless chicken thighs in this recipe. Try to get pieces that are around the same thickness so that they cook evenly. 
• Salted Butter: Use unsalted butter if you want to manually control the sodium content of the sauce.
• Garlic: The star ingredient of this butter garlic chicken recipe is, of course, garlic. Be sure to mince or dice them finely.
• Spices: I used minimal spices to keep it light. I just used Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
• Cooking Oil: I start by searing the chicken in avocado oil because the butter would burn. You can also use light olive oil. 
• Chicken Stock: This not only serves as the sauce’s base but also scrapes off any leftover residuals from the pan after frying the chicken. Using low-sodium stock, if available, is preferred.
• Fresh Parsley: Parsley and garlic are a timeless combination. Additionally, it’s not overpowering, allowing the garlic to shine as it should. 

How to Make Buttered Garlic Chicken Breast

1. Pat both sides of the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If the chicken breasts are more than ¾ inch thick, slice them in half or pound them with a meat mallet to allow for more even cooking.
2. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. 
4. Reduce the heat to medium, flip the chicken, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more, or until lightly browned and the internal temperature reaches at least 160º F with a thermometer. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
5. Plenty of yummy bits should be left over in the pan; do not discard them. Add the butter and chicken stock to the pan. Scrape the bottom and heat until the butter melts and the sauce starts to simmer.
6. Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic, stir, and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
7. Return the chicken breast to the pan and cook about 2 minutes more to heat and coat the chicken with the sauce, rotating halfway.
8. Serve the chicken with the garlic butter sauce spooned over and garnished with parsley.

Alternate Cooking Methods

Pan-sear with oven finish (for even cooking)

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and follow the recipe as written through searing the first side.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake 7 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness.
• Remove from oven and let rest 3 to 5 minutes, confirming the center reaches 165°F.

Air-fryer (for set and forget and more hands-off cooking)

• Melt the garlic butter sauce in a small bowl.
• Brush about half of it generously over the raw chicken breasts.
• Air fry at 380°F for 10 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway.
• When done, brush or spoon the remaining garlic-butter sauce over the cooked chicken and let it rest for a few minutes to soak in.
• Return to the air fryer for 1 minute after basting to infuse the flavors.

Variations

• Garlic Butter Lemon Chicken: If you prefer a lemony flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice and/or a teaspoon of lemon zest to the sauce near the end, before returning the chicken to the pan. This tastes a lot like my Lemon Chicken Cauliflower Rice Bowls but with a buttery pan sauce.
• Chili Lime Butter Chicken: For a kick and extra tang, add 1-2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice and a teaspoon of chili powder.
• Parmesan Garlic Butter Chicken: Top the chicken breasts at the end with grated Parmesan cheese for a delicious flavor enhancement.
• Add Some Veggies: To make this dish an even heartier dinner, you can try adding small, halved (roasted/boiled/steamed) baby potatoes, Dutch (baby) carrots, a handful of broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, peas, bell pepper, or asparagus to the sauce along with chicken breast.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic butter chicken goes well with a variety of sides, particularly those that soak up the delicious sauce! Some of my favorites are as follows: 

• Mashes: Nothing beats mash for soaking up garlic butter sauce! I really like it with Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes or Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes.
• Noodles or Rice: It tastes great if you serve it over rice or noodles. Serve the chicken over a mixture of your preferred rice such as Coconut Rice, Lemon Rice, plain steamed rice, or enjoy it over Zoodles.
• Simple Salads: Try a fresh salad, such as my Mexican Street Corn Salad or Fingerling Potato Salad with Green Olives, to counterbalance the rich main course. 
• Roasted Veggies: To ensure that my main course and side dish finish cooking simultaneously, I prefer to put them in the oven before beginning the garlic butter chicken recipe. This chicken goes nicely with Roasted Broccoli, Roasted Asparagus, or Roasted Green Beans.

Storage Tips

• Refrigerate: You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container.
• Freeze: This recipe is great for leftovers and meal prep. Put chicken pieces with the sauce in freezer-safe bags or containers, then store for up to two months. Before reheating, let it thaw overnight in the fridge. 
• Reheat: To reheat this garlic butter chicken, I recommend baking it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, with the chicken covered in foil to maintain its moisture. Reheating on the stovetop is an option, but it can be challenging to reheat the chicken without drying it out or burning the sauce. The microwave is another option, although it dries things out.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• The ideal thickness of chicken breast is ½ to ¾-inch. Cut thick chicken breasts in half or pound them with a meat mallet to ensure more even cooking. This is the key to getting a nice, even brown chicken breast on the outside without over or undercooking the center. 
• To ensure that the chicken turns out lovely and juicy, do not cook it directly from the refrigerator. The chicken will get chewy and seize up as a result. Before frying, bring the chicken to room temperature (about 20 minutes) for more even cooking.
• You can try other seasonings, such as lemon pepper, or add fresh-squeezed lemon juice to the garlic sauce to make garlic butter lemon chicken.
• Make sure the pan is preheated and the oil is hot before adding the chicken breasts to create a nice sear.
• Why add oil when cooking with butter? Butter adds flavor but burns easily. Mixing in a bit of cooking oil raises the smoke point, so the butter and garlic won’t burn easily.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan. Depending on the pan size, you’ll likely need to cook in two batches.
• A skillet works best for this recipe, but you can also use an aluminum or non-stick pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make Garlic Butter Chicken with Thighs?

Boneless thighs cook in about the same amount of time but stay even juicier. They’re also usually cheaper than chicken breasts, which can make this recipe even more cost-conscious. Follow the recipe as written, but cook until they reach 175°F internally for the best texture. 

Can I Make This With Bone-In Chicken Breasts?

Yes. Bone-in chicken breasts work and can be juicier, but they take longer to cook since the bone slows down how quickly the heat reaches the center. Follow the recipe as written, searing both sides in the garlic butter, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let them cook gently until they reach 165°F internally. They usually take 20 to 30 minutes total to cook, depending on size. 

Why Does Butter Burn So Easily?

This chicken with butter recipe is super easy, but preventing the butter from burning is a critical step. Butter contains milk solids that brown and burn at higher temperatures. If your pan is too hot, those solids will scorch before the chicken cooks. Keep the heat at medium when flipping the chicken will melt the butter gently and prevent burning.

Why add oil when cooking with butter?

I like to include cooking oil with my garlic butter sauce. Butter has a low smoke point, around 300°F, so it can burn easily and brown too much. Adding a neutral cooking oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil, with higher smoke points of around 400–500°F, raises the overall heat tolerance, allowing the browned butter to flavor the dish without burning.

Should I Use Salted or Unsalted Butter?

Unsalted gives you more control over seasoning. But I find salted butter has a better flavor for cooking and savory dishes. If you are watching your sodium intake, you may want to reduce the added salt in the recipe.

Can You Use Ghee in Butter Chicken?

Absolutely, and ghee works beautifully. It has a higher smoke point and no milk solids, so it won’t burn as quickly. You’ll lose a touch of that classic buttery flavor, but gain more browning control. Ghee is also better for those on restrictive diets or avoiding lactose. 

What to Serve with Garlic Butter Chicken?

Garlic butter Chicken is best served with cooked pasta, mashed potatoes, steamed rice, noodles/zoodles, garlic bread, a green leafy salad, or roasted/steamed veggies.

How to Get Juicy Breast Chicken?

As cooking time is always the key to a juicy chicken breast, it is suggested to use a reliable meat thermometer to check for doneness. Don’t cook the chicken over too high of heat, which can overcook it and also burn the butter. I often take the chicken out of the pan once it reaches 160–163 degrees F as it will continue to cook slightly while resting.

Can I Garnish it With Other Herbs?

You can use rosemary or thyme. They are both more potent than parsley, so I recommend starting with a small amount and increasing gradually. Make sure you’re always using fresh herbs. Dried herbs won’t properly infuse the sauce.

Delicious Garlic Recipes to Try

• Pesto Roasted Pork Sirloin
• Ginger Garlic Teriyaki Mushrooms Skewers
• Mediterranean Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Yogurt Sauce
• Garlic Herbed Pork Loin with Mushroom Wine Sauce

More Chicken Recipes You Might Like

• Chicken Katsu Recipe
• Keto Chicken Fried Steak
• Grilled Ginger Sesame Chicken Drumsticks
• Grilled Chicken Fajitas
• Baked Chicken Breast
• Grilled Chicken Breast
• Keto Chicken Tenders
• Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
• Keto Chicken Parmesan

Garlic Butter Chicken

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

This garlic chicken with butter recipe is a wholesome, comforting, economical, and classic easy dinner recipe. All you need is a handful of common ingredients and about 20 minutes for deliciously juicy, tender chicken.

Recipe Cost: $10.05 | Cost Per Serving: ~$2

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Chicken, Dinner, Entree

Cuisine American

Servings 5

Calories 332 kcal

Equipment

• Skillet or non-stick pan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pounds chicken breast boneless, skinless
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil avocado oil is recommended
• 3 tablespoons salted butter
• ½ cup chicken stock
• 4 large cloves garlic minced
• Fresh parsley as an optional garnish

Instructions

 

• Pat both sides of the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If the chicken breasts are more than ¾-inch thick, slice them in half or pound them with a meat mallet to allow for more even cooking.
• Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly browned. Note: Don’t overcrowd the pan. Depending on the pan size, you’ll likely need to cook in two batches.
• Reduce the heat to medium, rotate the chicken, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more, or until lightly browned and the internal temperature reaches at least 160º F with a thermometer.
• Remove the chicken and set aside. Plenty of yummy bits should be left over in the pan; do not discard.
• Add the butter and chicken stock to the pan. Scrape the bottom and heat until the butter melts and the sauce starts to simmer.
• Reduce the heat to low, add the garlic, stir, and cook 1 minute more until fragrant.
• Return the chicken breast to the pan and cook about 2 minutes more to heat and coat the chicken with the sauce, rotating halfway.
• Serve the chicken with the garlic butter sauce spooned over and garnished with parsley.

Notes

• The ideal thickness of chicken breast is ½ to ¾-inch. Cut thick chicken breasts in half or pound them with a meat mallet to ensure more even cooking. This is the key to getting a nice, even brown chicken breast on the outside without over- or under-cooking the center. 
• To ensure that the chicken turns out evenly cooked and juicy, do not cook it directly from the refrigerator. The chicken will get chewy and seize up as a result. Before cooking, bring the chicken to room temperature (about 20 minutes).
• You can try other seasonings, such as lemon pepper, or add fresh-squeezed lemon juice to the garlic sauce to make garlic butter lemon chicken.
• Make sure the pan is preheated and the oil is hot before adding the chicken breasts to create a nice sear.
• Why add oil when cooking with butter? Adding a cooking oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil, with a higher smoke point of 400–500°F, raises the butter sauce's overall heat tolerance and helps prevent burning.
• Don’t overcrowd the pan. Depending on the pan size, you’ll likely need to cook in two batches.
• Try this recipe with chicken thighs: They cook in about the same amount of time but stay even juicier. Follow the recipe as written, but add a bit more time and cook until they reach 175°F internally for the best texture. 

Pan Cooking Times for Chicken Breast Based on Thickness
• ½ inch thick: 8 to 10 minutes total (4 to 5 per side).
• ¾ inch thick: 10 to 12 minutes total.
• 1 inch thick: 12 to 15 minutes total.
• 1 ½ inches thick: 15 to 18 minutes total.

Alternate Cooking Methods

Pan-sear + oven finish (for even cooking)

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and follow the recipe as written through searing the first side.
• Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake 7 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness.
• Remove from oven and let rest 3 to 5 minutes, confirming the center reaches 165°F.

Air-fryer (for set and forget and more hands-off cooking)

• Melt the garlic butter sauce in a small bowl.
• Brush about half of it generously over the raw chicken breasts.
• Air fry at 380°F for 10 to 14 minutes, flipping halfway.
• When done, brush or spoon the remaining garlic-butter sauce over the cooked chicken and let it rest for a few minutes to soak in.
• Return to the air fryer for 1 minute after basting to infuse the flavors.

Nutrition Facts

Garlic Butter Chicken

Serving Size

 

6.5 ounces

Amount per Serving

Calories

332

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

17

g

26

%

Saturated Fat

 

6

g

38

%

Trans Fat

 

0.3

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

3

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

7

g

Cholesterol

 

135

mg

45

%

Sodium

 

765

mg

33

%

Potassium

 

724

mg

21

%

Carbohydrates

 

2

g

1

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

0.5

g

1

%

Protein

 

39

g

78

%

Vitamin A

 

283

IU

6

%

Vitamin C

 

3

mg

4

%

Calcium

 

33

mg

3

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Buttered garlic chicken breast, Buttery garlic chicken, Garlic Butter Chicken, Garlic Butter Chicken Breast, Garlic Butter Chicken recipe

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