Easy Garlic Butter Chicken (Breast or Thighs)

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Easy Garlic Butter Chicken is made with just a few simple ingredients and packed with juicy flavor! It’s an easy weeknight dinner, made with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or boneless chicken breasts and a rich two-ingredient sauce.

After just one mouthful of this garlic chicken and the delicious garlic butter sauce, you’ll want to add this recipe to your list of go-to favorites!

Ingredient notes

• Chicken | This simple recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
• Salt and pepper | Season the chicken with kosher salt and black pepper. Freshly ground black pepper is best.
• Dried herbs | Bring more flavor to the chicken with dried oregano and thyme.
• Olive oil | Use olive oil to cook the chicken breasts or thighs.

• Broth | Chicken broth will help deglaze the pan and boost the sauce’s flavor.
• Butter | Unsalted butter will be the base of the garlic sauce.
• Garlic | Mince fresh garlic cloves for the savory butter sauce.
• Fresh parsley | If you’d like, chop fresh Italian parsley for a lovely garnish.

How to make Garlic Butter Chicken

Today’s easy chicken dinner is not your ordinary piece of chicken — it pleases the picky eaters while satisfying more sophisticated palates.

STEP 1 | Season chicken

First, let’s get the chicken properly seasoned. In a shallow bowl, sprinkle salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme on top of the chicken and toss to coat it evenly.

STEP 2 | Cook the chicken

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Then, add the seasoned chicken pieces to the skillet and cook, without disturbing, for 3-4 minutes.

Next, turn the chicken and cook another 3-4 minutes or until they are cooked through and golden brown.

STEP 3 | Remove the chicken

Best practice is to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. When the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, it is cooked through. Then, remove the chicken to a clean plate.

STEP 4 | Create the pan sauce

Next, pour the chicken broth into the skillet to deglaze the bottom of the pan, allowing it to sizzle for a few minutes.

Next, melt the butter, add the fresh minced garlic, and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.

STEP 5 | Sear chicken and coat with sauce

Now, return the chicken to the pan and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring to ensure the chicken is well coated with the savory garlic butter sauce.

STEP 6 | Garnish and serve!

Finally, remove the skillet from the heat and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Before slicing into the garlic butter chicken thighs or breasts, allow it to sit for a few minutes, retaining the juices. Slice it just before serving.

For more hit recipes with incredible sauces, try these Pan-Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions With Mushroom Sauce, Chicken Meatballs with Honey Garlic Sauce, and this Pumpkin Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms and Sage, perfect for fall!

Variations and substitutions

• Chicken Seasoning. Use your favorite Italian seasoning blend instead of the dried herbs, if preferred.
• Steak and Pork. The garlic butter sauce is also delicious on other meats, like steak and pork!
• Veggie Sauce. It’s also a tasty way to add flavor to roasted or steamed vegetables.
• Add Heat. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the sauce for a kick!
• Freshly minced or pressed garlic is best in this recipe. If you don’t have any, substitute one teaspoon of garlic powder (or more if desired) in the sauce.
• Replace the broth with dry white wine to deglaze the pan and add a flavor twist.

Storage and reheating tips

• Place any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• To reheat: Heat the recipe on the stovetop in a skillet with butter or olive oil, or use the microwave to warm it up in short bursts. You can also heat the leftovers in the oven at 350°F while covered with aluminum foil to prevent the meat from drying out.

Frequently asked questions

Serving suggestions

Garlic butter chicken goes well with various side dishes such as mashed potatoes, steamed or roasted vegetables (like carrots, green beans, or broccoli) roasted baby potatoes, rice, or a fresh salad.