Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (2024)

This Easy Garlic Chicken recipe is a delicious, family-friendly dinner that can be made in just 20 minutes. Pan seared chicken breasts are topped with a garlic sauce seasoned with a hint of brown sugar, herbs, and spices.

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (1)

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Dinner time doesn’t have to be stressful. Chicken is the best when you need a quick but flavorful dinner.

It’s such a versatile protein to work with. Meals like Skillet Creamy Lemon Chicken with Cauliflower (or this version that uses orzo pasta) and Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Casserole really showcase how easy it is for chicken to take on a variety of flavors.

This Garlic Chicken recipe is my favorite chicken recipe when I need quick, easy, and delicious! If you prefer a creamier sauce, try this recipe forCreamy Garlic Chicken.

Why This Recipe Works

This easy chicken dinner recipe is super quick to prepare andfamily-friendly!

All it takes to make this delicious chicken recipe is a single pan and a few pantry ingredients. Dinner will be ready and on the table in under 20 minutes!

The simple, yet incredibly flavorful garlic sauce really accentuates the chicken. With loads of garlic, a hint of brown sugar, and a touch of spice, it’s a mouth-watering combination of flavors that will have you scraping every last little bit out of the pan!

This recipe is naturally gluten free. There is only has 1 gram of carbohydrates per serving, making it low carb, but you can make it completely sugar free by using a brown sugar substitute like Swerve Brown Sugar. This also makes it a bit more keto friendly.

How to Make Garlic Chicken

Ingredients

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (2)

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (split or pound thin if thicker than a half inch)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

The entire recipe and instructions can also be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can also print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

The only prep work for this recipe is to mince the garlic and trim the chicken, if necessary.

Create!

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (3)

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, brown sugar, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, if using. Set aside.

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (4)

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and season with the salt and pepper.

Add the chicken to the skillet and sear on the first side for about 3-4 minutes, until golden brown.

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (5)

Flip the chicken over and brush on the garlic marinade. Drizzle the extra marinade around the chicken in the pan.

Lower the heat to medium and continue cooking the chicken, until it is no longer pink in the center and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, between 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken.

Present!

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (6)

Serve hot, drizzling any excess pan juices over the chicken, if desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • Make this recipe low carb and keto friendly by swapping out the brown sugar for a brown sugar substitute like Swerve – you won’t even notice the difference!
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, rice, and/or vegetables for a complete meal.
  • Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

How Long Does It Take To Cook Chicken In A Skillet?

How long to cook chicken in a skillet will vary depending on how thick it is. A general time frame is 5-7 minutes per side, but you should always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer before serving. It should reach 165°F for chicken.

Can You Cook Chicken In A Cast Iron Skillet?

Yes, just make sure the pan is well coated with butter or oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.

Is Cooking Chicken In A Pan Healthy?

Whether or not a recipe is healthy will depend on the ingredients used. To cook chicken in a pan, you will need to use some type of non-stick coating such as oil, butter, or a non-stick spray.

More Easy Garlic Chicken Recipes

In need of a few more easy garlic chicken dinner recipes? Some quick and simple recipes include:

Honey Garlic Chicken

Crispy, crunchy chicken in a sweet and sticky sauce make this recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken a favorite for all. It takes around 30 minutes to make and can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or as an appetizer.

Get The Recipe

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (7)

Garlic Chicken Pasta

Garlic Chicken Pasta is a quick and easy go-to meal that's delicious and family friendly. This recipe takes just 30 minutes and can easily be modified to suit a low carb or gluten free diet, if needed.

Get The Recipe

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (8)

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Lemon Garlic Chicken is a one pan recipe that can be made in just 25 minutes. It’s incredibly flavorful and kid-friendly. This recipe is low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free.

Get The Recipe

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (9)

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If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating. I would really appreciate it!

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (10)

Print

Easy Garlic Chicken

This Easy Garlic Chicken recipe is a delicious, family-friendly dinner that can be made in just 20 minutes. Pan seared chicken breasts are topped with a garlic sauce seasoned with a hint of brown sugar, herbs, and spices.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Chicken

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 192kcal

Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, brown sugar, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, if using. Set aside.

    1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and season with the salt and pepper.

    1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

  • Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and hot.

    1 tablespoon butter

  • Add the chicken to the skillet and sear on the first side for about 3-4 minutes, until golden brown.

  • Flip the chicken over and brush on the garlic marinade. Drizzle the extra around the chicken in the pan.

  • Lower the heat to medium and continue cooking the chicken, until no longer pink in the middle and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 5-10 minutes depending on the thickness of your chicken.

  • Serve hot, drizzling any excess pan juices over the chicken, if desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques for Making the Best Garlic Chicken

  • Make this recipe low carb and keto friendly by swapping out the brown sugar for a brown sugar substitute like Swerve - you won't even notice the difference!
  • Serve with mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, rice, and/or vegetables for a complete meal.
  • Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3-4 days.

** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 424mg | Potassium: 419mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.5mg

This recipe was first published on October 16, 2017. The recipe, video, and images were updated on January 10, 2019. Minor updates were made in June 2020 and again in April 2022.

Easy Pan Seared Garlic Chicken Recipe - Delicious Little Bites (2024)

FAQs

What does searing chicken before baking do? ›

What does searing do to the chicken? Searing the surface of the chicken helps lock in moisture in the meat; which in turn, it holds the flavors inside. Searing your chicken first can be helpful if you are baking the chicken after; since it gives the chicken breast a 'crust,' and the meat won't dry out.

How to use garlic on chicken? ›

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add chicken to the pan and cook until browned on one side, about 4 minutes.

How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

When to add minced garlic to chicken? ›

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.

Is it better to sear chicken in oil or butter? ›

Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

How long to bake chicken at 400 after searing? ›

Non-seared Chicken breasts take about 15-18 minutes at 400°F in your oven. Searing reduces baking time by 1-4 minutes.

Do you put spices on chicken before cooking? ›

Yes, you should always season your chicken before cooking when it's raw. You can even do this up to 24 hours before if you have the time. Why? Because leaving the seasoning on your chicken overnight in the fridge will help it start to trap moisture in the chicken, which will make it nice and juicy once cooked.

Should you add garlic to chicken? ›

Raw garlic may be used to boost the immune system of a droopy mature chicken by serving as an appetite stimulant.

How to use garlic as seasoning? ›

Add roasted garlic to soups, stews, salad dressings, rubs, marinades—anywhere you'd use raw or dried garlic. The result will be a mellower, earthier garlic flavor. It's a foolproof way to give your favorite recipes new life.

How do restaurants get their chicken so soft? ›

Typically there are a couple of different ways restaurants use to velvet their chicken most Chinese restaurants use baking soda and cornstarch for the best results. However, a couple of other methods include using: Chemical tenderisers. Egg whites.

What is the secret to moist chicken? ›

There are three key tricks: tenderize, marinate, and controlled cooking time. When you use all three of these methods, you will have succulent, moist chicken every time, and you can apply these strategies to other cuts of meat as well.

What cooking method makes chicken most tender? ›

  1. Flatten the chicken breasts. ...
  2. Heat the pan. ...
  3. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. ...
  4. Flip the chicken breasts. ...
  5. Turn the heat down to low. ...
  6. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. ...
  7. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes. ...
  8. Remove lid and take temperature.

Should you saute garlic before adding to sauce? ›

Allow the garlic to cook for just 30 to 60 seconds before adding liquid or other ingredients to the pot. This is our best practice when cooking just about anything with minced garlic—from chili to pasta sauce to vegetable soup.

Why not cook onions and garlic together? ›

So, when do you saute the garlic? Why, after the onion! Onion is the first to go in the pan because it needs time to become translucent, meaning it's cooked, which takes about 10 minutes. Garlic, on the other hand, cooks quickly and burns easily, so introduce it after the onion is cooked.

Why should you sear chicken? ›

Searing is important for developing flavor through the Maillard reaction that denatures the protein on the surface of the meat when heat is applied, forming a flavorful crust. You usually want this (not always).

Is it better to sear or bake chicken? ›

When it comes to preparing a delicious and juicy chicken dish, mastering the art of searing and baking is essential. Searing the chicken locks in the juices and creates a flavorful crust, while baking ensures that the meat is cooked through to perfection.

Should I sear chicken skin before baking? ›

Searing is great for chicken tenders, boneless chicken breasts, and thighs (boneless, skinless, or otherwise). With skin-on cuts, you'll want to sear the chicken skin-side down until the skin is golden brown. Before you begin, let the chicken rest at room temperature to remove some of the chill from the refrigerator.

Is it better to pan sear or bake chicken breast? ›

What Is The Best Way To Cook A Chicken Breast? Cooking a boneless and skinless chicken breast in a hot cast iron pan is by far the easiest and most tasty way to cook the breast. You are far less likely to overcook the chicken breast compared to baking it in the oven or poaching it in water.

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