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This easy garlic chicken is a straightforward skillet recipe that turns a handful of everyday ingredients into a satisfying, flavorful meal.
Tender, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are cooked in butter until they are fully cooked through, while garlic powder, seasoning salt, and onion powder create a savory coating that adds plenty of flavor without requiring a long ingredient list.
The butter helps the chicken develop a lightly rich, golden exterior while keeping the overall dish simple and comforting.
The flavor is pleasantly savory, buttery, and garlicky, with onion powder adding another subtle layer of seasoning.
Garlic powder is especially convenient here because it distributes evenly over the chicken as it cooks, allowing every bite to carry that familiar garlic flavor.
Seasoning salt brings the basic seasoning together and can be adjusted to taste according to preference.
Because the chicken is cooked directly in a skillet, this recipe is particularly practical for a quick weeknight dinner.
The preparation takes only 10 minutes, followed by about 15 minutes of cooking, making the complete dish ready in roughly 25 minutes.
The finished chicken is best served hot, straight from the skillet, when its buttery, seasoned flavor is at its freshest.
With four chicken breast halves providing four servings, this recipe is an uncomplicated choice when you want a warm, homemade chicken dinner without an elaborate preparation process.
5-Ingredient Garlic Butter Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Melt the Butter: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the Chicken: Place the chicken breast halves into the melted butter, arranging them in the skillet so they can cook evenly.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder, seasoning salt, and onion powder, adjusting the seasonings to taste.
- Sauté the First Side: Cook the chicken in the hot butter for 7 to 10 minutes, allowing it to sauté until the outside is cooked and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
- Turn and Continue Cooking: Turn the chicken breasts over and sauté the other side for another 7 to 10 minutes, continuing until the juices run clear and the chicken is fully cooked.
- Check the Temperature: Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of a chicken breast. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (74°C).
- Serve Hot: Remove the fully cooked chicken from the skillet and serve hot.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breast halves as specified for the recipe.
- Garlic powder, seasoning salt, and onion powder can each be adjusted to taste.
- Cook the chicken over medium heat in the melted butter to follow the original method.
- Sauté each side for 7 to 10 minutes, checking the thickest part of the chicken for doneness.
- The chicken is ready when it is no longer pink in the center, the juices run clear, and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F (74°C).
- Serve the chicken hot for the best buttery, savory flavor.
Chef’s Secret
For the most reliable result, use the instant-read thermometer to check the center of the thickest part of the chicken breast rather than relying only on its appearance.
Chicken breasts can vary in thickness, so the thinner portions may finish cooking before the center of a thicker breast reaches the required temperature.
Since the original method calls for sautéing the chicken for 7 to 10 minutes per side, begin checking toward the end of that cooking range.
The thermometer should register at least 165°F (74°C).
This simple check helps confirm that the chicken is fully cooked while keeping the cooking process aligned with the original skillet method.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this buttery garlic chicken hot alongside simple vegetables, steamed rice, or potatoes for an easy complete meal.
It also pairs naturally with a crisp green salad or another favorite vegetable side.
For a straightforward presentation, place the cooked chicken breasts on a serving plate while still hot and spoon any flavorful butter remaining in the skillet over the chicken.
The savory garlic and onion seasoning also works well alongside pasta, making the chicken easy to incorporate into a casual weeknight dinner.
Conclusion
This easy garlic chicken proves that a short ingredient list can still create a satisfying homemade meal.
Butter, garlic powder, seasoning salt, and onion powder give the chicken a rich, savory flavor while the simple skillet method keeps preparation uncomplicated.
Ready in about 25 minutes, it is a practical choice for busy evenings when you want a warm chicken dinner without a complicated cooking process.
Serve the tender, fully cooked chicken hot alongside your favorite simple sides for an effortless meal.
