Description
This Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Breast recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and baked in a rich garlic butter sauce infused with fresh herbs. Perfect for a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner, it combines classic tastes of garlic, rosemary, thyme, and parsley to elevate a simple chicken breast into a delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garlic Butter Herb Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken.
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Prepare the garlic butter sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, thyme leaves, and rosemary. This mixture will infuse the chicken with rich, herby flavors.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. This step locks in juices and adds depth of flavor.
- Add the garlic butter: Pour the prepared garlic butter mixture evenly over the seared chicken breasts, coating them thoroughly to impart a delicious buttery herb taste.
- Bake the chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C), ensuring that it is fully cooked and tender.
- Rest and serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Resting allows the juices to redistribute, making the chicken moist and flavorful. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness to avoid undercooked or overcooked chicken.
- You can substitute fresh herbs with 1 teaspoon each of dried parsley, thyme, and rosemary if fresh herbs are unavailable.
- For an extra touch, spoon some of the garlic butter sauce over the chicken when serving.
- Leftover chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Ensure the skillet is oven-safe to prevent damage or accidents during baking.
