Easy Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce: Your Go-To 20-Minute Weeknight Meal

Discover the ultimate weeknight hero: a quick and easy skillet chicken with an incredibly flavorful herb butter sauce. This recipe requires just a handful of everyday ingredients and remarkably, it’s ready in under 20 minutes! Perfect for those busy evenings when you crave a delicious, home-cooked meal without the fuss.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your new secret weapon for effortless, impressive dinners. Honestly, I prepare this dish so frequently that I no longer need to consult the recipe card. It’s become a staple in my kitchen, and I’m confident it will become one in yours too.

Our Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce comes together quickly using ingredients you likely already have on hand. It delivers a rich, savory flavor profile that will delight your taste buds, all with minimal effort. The tender chicken, coated in a delicate crust, is perfectly complemented by the aromatic, velvety sauce. Serve it alongside classic favorites like fluffy rice pilaf, creamy mashed potatoes, a crisp Caesar salad, or any of your preferred side dishes to create a complete and satisfying meal.

Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Skillet Chicken Recipe

There are countless reasons why this skillet chicken will become a treasured recipe in your collection. It’s a harmonious blend of speed, simplicity, and incredible flavor that ticks all the boxes for a perfect meal.

• Speed Demon: Forget lengthy prep and cook times. This entire meal, from start to finish, is ready in under 20 minutes. It’s ideal for busy weeknights, last-minute dinner plans, or when you just don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
• Irresistible Flavor: The secret lies in the quick pan-frying method and the luscious herb butter sauce. The chicken is lightly coated in seasoned flour, creating a beautiful golden-brown crust that locks in moisture and adds a delightful texture. This crust also acts as a natural thickener for the rich, aromatic sauce made right in the same pan.
• Simple Ingredients, Big Impact: You don’t need exotic spices or hard-to-find components. With basic pantry staples like chicken, flour, butter, chicken broth, and fresh herbs, you can create a dish that tastes like it came from a gourmet restaurant.
• Effortless Cleanup: Everything comes together in a single skillet! This means less washing up and more time to enjoy your delicious creation. Who doesn’t love a one-pan wonder?
• Incredibly Versatile: While perfect as written, this recipe is also wonderfully adaptable. You can easily tweak the herbs, add a splash of lemon, or incorporate garlic to suit your preference, making it a dish you can customize again and again.

You’ll adore both how straightforward this dish is to prepare and how utterly delicious it tastes. I wholeheartedly promise it’s a recipe you’ll find yourself returning to time and time again, impressing both family and friends with minimal effort!

So, let’s gather our ingredients and get cooking, shall we? Your next favorite chicken dish is just minutes away!

Essential Ingredients You’ll Need for Skillet Chicken

One of the beauties of this recipe is its reliance on simple, accessible ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create this fantastic meal:

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: We opt for boneless, skinless breasts for their quick cooking time and lean protein. Aim for about 1 pound, which typically yields 2-3 breasts, enough for 4 servings once pounded thin.
• Olive Oil: Essential for pan-frying the chicken and achieving that beautiful golden-brown crust. A good quality extra virgin olive oil works perfectly.
• All-Purpose Flour: This forms the light coating on the chicken, contributing to a crispy exterior and acting as a gentle thickener for the herb butter sauce.
• Salt and Pepper: The fundamental seasonings that enhance the natural flavors of the chicken and sauce. Coarse salt is recommended for better control and flavor distribution.
• Butter: The star of our rich, velvety sauce. Unsalted butter allows you to control the overall sodium content.
• Chicken Broth or Stock: Provides the liquid base for our savory sauce, deglazing the pan and adding depth of flavor. Low-sodium varieties are great for controlling salt levels.
• Rosemary and/or Thyme (Fresh or Dried): These aromatic herbs infuse the butter sauce with incredible fragrance and taste. Fresh herbs are always preferred for their vibrant flavor, but dried herbs are a perfectly acceptable substitute if fresh isn’t available (remember to use about half the amount of dried compared to fresh).

Optional Additions to Elevate the Flavor

While this chicken recipe is wonderfully rich and flavorful as written, it’s also incredibly adaptable. Feel free to experiment with these additions to create a slightly different or more complex flavor profile:

• Add 1 Clove Minced Garlic: For an extra layer of aromatic depth, sauté minced garlic in the pan for about 30 seconds before adding the chicken broth for the sauce. The garlic will infuse the butter sauce with its pungent, savory notes.
• Add Juice of ½ a Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end brightens the entire dish, cutting through the richness of the butter sauce and adding a zesty finish. It provides a lovely contrast and awakens the other flavors.
• Add a Splash of Heavy Cream: For an even more luxurious and creamy sauce, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of heavy cream along with the chicken broth. This creates a richer, silkier texture that coats the chicken beautifully.
• Add a Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes: If you enjoy a subtle kick, a small pinch of red pepper flakes added to the flour mixture or the sauce will introduce a pleasant warmth without overpowering the other flavors.
• Replace ½ of Chicken Broth with White Wine: For a sophisticated twist, deglaze the pan with a dry white wine (like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio) before adding the remaining chicken broth. The wine adds an acidic brightness and complexity to the sauce.
• Replace Rosemary/Thyme with Sage, Oregano, or Marjoram: Feel free to experiment with other complementary herbs. Sage pairs wonderfully with chicken, offering an earthy, slightly peppery flavor. Oregano adds a Mediterranean touch, while marjoram provides a sweeter, milder aroma than oregano.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Easy Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce

Follow these simple steps to create a restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen:

1. Prepare the Chicken Breasts: Pound Them Thin for Even Cooking. For truly quick and even cooking, the chicken breasts need to be a uniform, thin thickness. Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy glass, gently pound the chicken until it’s about 1 inch thick across the entire piece. This ensures that the chicken cooks quickly and thoroughly without drying out.
2. Dredge Chicken in Flour and Seasoning for a Golden Crust. On a shallow plate, combine the all-purpose flour with the coarse salt and ground black pepper. Mix well. Take each pounded chicken breast and dip both sides into the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even, light coating. This flour coating is crucial for achieving a beautiful golden-brown crust and helps thicken our delicious sauce later.
3. Pan-Fry Chicken to Golden Perfection in Olive Oil. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (preferably stainless steel or cast iron, as discussed in our tips below) over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the dredged chicken breasts to the hot skillet. Cook for approximately 4-5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is beautifully browned on both sides and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary.
4. Craft a Quick and Flavorful Pan Sauce. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Don’t clean the pan! Add the butter to the hot skillet. As it melts, use a whisk to scrape up all the delicious browned bits (known as “fond”) from the bottom of the pan. These bits are packed with flavor and are essential for a rich sauce. Pour in the chicken broth and add your fresh (or dried) herbs. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce slightly thickens from the residual flour and reduces slightly. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings with additional salt and pepper if needed.
5. Serve Immediately with Herb Butter Sauce. Carefully return the cooked chicken breasts and any juices that have collected on the plate back into the skillet with the herb butter sauce. Spoon the glistening sauce generously over the top of the chicken. Serve hot with your chosen side dishes. Enjoy the burst of fresh herbs and savory chicken in every bite!

Expert Cooking Tips for the Best Skillet Chicken

To ensure your Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce turns out perfectly every time, keep these valuable tips in mind:

• Opt for Thin-Cut Chicken: If you can find “thin cut” chicken breasts at your grocery store, you can completely skip the pounding step (step 1). This saves you valuable time and effort, making the recipe even faster!
• Chicken Tenderloins are a Great Alternative: For another time-saving option, chicken tenderloins work exceptionally well with this recipe. They are naturally thin and require no pounding, cooking quickly and evenly just like the flattened breasts.
• Achieve a Thicker Sauce: If you prefer a richer, more substantial sauce, simply create a cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 2 teaspoons of cold water and whisk until smooth. Stir this mixture into the simmering sauce in the skillet and cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly, until it reaches your desired thickness.
• Make it Gluten-Free: This recipe is easily adaptable for those with gluten sensitivities. Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour blend. Ensure it’s a blend designed for all-purpose use for the best results in coating and thickening.
• Choose the Right Skillet: For superior browning and flavor development, it’s best to use a stainless steel or cast iron skillet. These materials promote excellent caramelization and allow the flavorful browned bits (fond) to form on the bottom, which are essential for a deeply savory sauce. Non-stick skillets tend to prevent this crucial browning.
• Keep Your Stove Clean with a Splatter Screen: Pan-frying can sometimes lead to oil splatters. If you want to keep your stovetop pristine, consider using a splatter screen while the chicken cooks.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cooking too many chicken pieces at once will lower the pan’s temperature, leading to steaming instead of searing. This prevents the chicken from getting that desirable golden-brown crust. Cook in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space around each piece.
• Check for Doneness: Always ensure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) using an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part.

Make it a Complete and Balanced Meal

This Easy Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce is a fantastic main course on its own, but it truly shines when paired with the right side dishes. Here are a few suggestions to create a perfectly balanced and delicious meal:

• The Best Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, buttery mashed potatoes are the quintessential accompaniment. Their soft texture and mild flavor perfectly absorb the rich herb butter sauce.
• Classic Rice Pilaf: A light and fluffy rice pilaf offers a wonderful textural contrast and a neutral base that allows the chicken and sauce to be the stars of the plate. It’s also excellent for soaking up every last drop of that incredible sauce.
• Buttery Garlic Green Beans: Fresh green beans, quickly sautéed with garlic and a touch of butter, provide a vibrant green color, a satisfying crunch, and a healthy balance to the meal.
• Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots: Sweet and tender glazed carrots add a touch of sweetness and beautiful color to your plate, complementing the savory chicken beautifully.
• Simple Steamed Asparagus: Lightly steamed asparagus spears with a squeeze of lemon are a fresh, elegant, and healthy pairing that takes minutes to prepare.
• Crusty Bread: Don’t forget a slice of crusty bread or a baguette to sop up any leftover sauce – it’s too good to waste!

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Have leftovers? This skillet chicken stores well and makes for a fantastic next-day meal!

• Storage: Allow any leftover chicken and sauce to cool completely. Transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: For best results, gently reheat the chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen the sauce if it has thickened too much. Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave, but be careful not to overcook the chicken, which can dry it out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are answers to some common questions about this quick and easy skillet chicken recipe:

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Yes, absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used. They typically don’t require pounding as they are already thinner and tend to stay juicier. The cooking time might be slightly different, so ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Can I prepare this dish ahead of time? This dish is best enjoyed fresh, as the crispy crust of the chicken is at its prime right after cooking. However, you can prep the chicken by pounding and dredging it a few hours in advance and storing it covered in the refrigerator. The sauce is so quick to make that it’s ideal to prepare it just before serving.
• What if my sauce is too thin or too thick? If your sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to reduce. If it’s too thick, add a tablespoon or two of extra chicken broth or water until it reaches your desired consistency. You can also use the cornstarch slurry tip mentioned above for a thicker sauce.
• Can I freeze this skillet chicken? While technically possible, freezing cooked chicken can sometimes alter its texture, making it a bit drier when reheated. The sauce, however, freezes well. If you choose to freeze, store the chicken and sauce in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• What’s the best way to get a crispy crust on the chicken? Ensure your skillet is properly heated with the olive oil before adding the chicken. Don’t overcrowd the pan, and allow the chicken to cook undisturbed for the recommended time on each side until a deep golden-brown crust forms.

Shop Tools for this Recipe

Having the right tools can make all the difference in your cooking experience. Here are some essentials that will help you create this perfect Skillet Chicken with Herb Butter Sauce:

A good quality heavy-bottomed skillet, whether stainless steel or cast iron, is truly indispensable for this recipe, allowing for that ideal sear and flavor development for your sauce.