Pan-seared chicken combines tender boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets with a delicate blend of sweet paprika, aromatic herbs, and a rich herb sauce for a quick and flavorful dinner.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pan-Seared Chicken Recipe
Calories: 1695kcal
Ingredients
1teaspoonsweet paprika
1teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonblack pepper
4thin boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets(1½ pounds - ½-¾ inch thick)
3tablespoonsolive oil
2teaspoonsminced fresh garlic
2teaspoonschopped fresh thyme leaves,plus additional for garnish
½teaspoonfinely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
¾cupchicken broth
2tablespoonsunsalted butter
Instructions
Combine the sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Lay out the four chicken cutlets onto a clean plate and sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the spice blend.
Heat a large 12-inch, heavy-duty skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, place the seasoned chicken cutlets into the skillet and allow them to cook and brown for 5-6 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook on the second side for an additional 4-6 minutes or until cooked through. A meat thermometer should read 165°F.
Remove the pan-seared chicken from the skillet and place it onto a plate, lightly covered with aluminum foil, to rest while making the herb sauce.
Turn the heat to the skillet down to medium-low and add the minced garlic, chopped fresh thyme leaves, and finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves. Stir the herbs into the olive oil and allow them to cook and soften for 1-2 minutes or just until the garlic becomes fragrant.
Add the chicken broth to the skillet and allow the broth and herbs to bubble and simmer for 5 minutes or until the liquid has reduced by half. Whisk in the unsalted butter and turn off the heat to the skillet.
Place the pan-seared chicken back into the skillet with the herb sauce and gently spoon the sauce over the surface of the pan-seared chicken cutlets.
Remove the herb-coated, pan-seared chicken from the skillet and slice each chicken cutlet into strips, then place the sliced pan-seared chicken onto a serving plate. You can spoon additional herb sauce over the sliced chicken for added flavor and moistness. You can garnish with a sprinkle of additional fresh thyme leaves if desired.
Notes
If you can not find a four-pack of thin boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets, you can cut two larger and thicker cutlets in half lengthwise to use. You can also ask your butcher to cut you four equal-sized thin cutlets.
A large 12-inch skillet was used for this recipe. If your skillet is not that large, you may need to cook your chicken in two batches to ensure that you do not overcrowd your pan and that you can get a nice golden brown sear on each chicken cutlet.
If you try to put too much chicken in a smaller pan, you will end up steaming your chicken and not browning/searing it.
Resist the urge to move your chicken around while it is cooking. Leaving your chicken breast alone helps to ensure that you can get a beautiful pan-seared crust on your chicken.