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.
This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Statement for more information.
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!
Why This Recipe Works
This easy chicken dinner recipe is super quick to prepare and family-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
- 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
- 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!
Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, brown sugar, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, if using. Set aside.
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.
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!
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:
Love this Easy Garlic Chicken Recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating. I would really appreciate it!
Easy Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic * minced
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes * optional
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, brown sugar, dried thyme, and red pepper flakes, if using. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel and season with the salt and pepper.
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until melted and hot.
- 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.
Nutrition
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.
Louise says
This is fast, easy and delicious. I’ll be making this again for sure. Can’t wait for leftovers on my salad tomorrow.
Lauren Vavala says
Thanks so much Louise! I’m glad that you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
– Lauren
Michelle says
Simple, fast and delicious! My super picky 8-year old loved it and kept asking for more. So yummy – will be making this again!!
Lauren Vavala says
Yay! That’s awesome – thanks so much!
Melissa Kirk says
Looks delicious and looking forward to trying.
Aline says
One can never have too many chicken recipes, especially simple and tasty ones like this!! So yummy!!
Kels says
This is my go to chicken recipe. Love how simple tasting but juicy this is.
Lauren Vavala says
Thank you so much!
Adriana Lopez Martin says
Love garlic chicken and your recipe looks so appetizing and a perfect dish for a weekly dinner. I like Alexia they have good products need to buy some on my next trip to the store.
Katie says
You know a recipe is going to be good when the ingredients are all things that are so simple, yet so tasty. This recipe is fast, so it’ll be perfect for week nights! Thanks for sharing!
Cliona Keane says
Yum! Garlic and chicken are two of my favourite things, particularly when paired together like this. Definitely one for my archive!
Andrea Metlika says
Love a good chicken recipe. Looks yummy. I didn’t know Alexia made other side dishes, will have to look for them the next grocery trip.
Ellen says
I am always looking for new chicken recipes. This will definitely be a hit with the family!