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Perfect Pan Sauce Chicken Breast Recipe Easy Restaurant Quality Dinner

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This recipe transforms simple chicken breasts into a juicy, flavorful dish with a rich pan sauce, perfect for quick and impressive weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6–7 oz / 170-200g each), pounded to even thickness
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped (or small yellow onion)
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine or lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Place each breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound to about 1/2 inch thickness. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Place chicken breasts in the pan and cook without moving for 4-5 minutes until deep golden brown on the underside. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). Remove chicken and tent loosely with foil to rest.
  4. Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the same pan. Once melted, add minced garlic and shallots. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and softened but not browned.
  5. Pour in chicken broth and white wine or lemon juice, scraping up browned bits from the pan with a wooden spoon.
  6. Simmer sauce gently for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
  7. Stir in fresh herbs and swirl sauce around chicken breasts in the pan to coat. Plate chicken and drizzle with extra sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 160°F for juiciness. Do not move chicken too soon to allow crust formation. Adjust sauce thickness by adding broth if needed. For gluten-free, verify broth and wine labels. Butter can be replaced with olive oil for dairy-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: pan sauce chicken, chicken breast recipe, easy chicken dinner, restaurant quality chicken, quick chicken recipe, juicy chicken breast

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/perfect-pan-sauce-chicken-breast-recipe-easy-restaurant-quality-dinner/