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These easy Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts turn out succulently tender with rich flavor. They make the perfect main dish on any busy weeknight and are great for meal prepping too!
Sometimes, the most basic main dishes turn into family favorites, and such is true for my Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts!
It is simple to prepare at a moment’s notice, doesn’t require any advance prep, and takes about 30 minutes to make from start to finish.
Plus, it can be paired with just about any side dish! That’s versatility! I find Garlic Herb Roasted Vegetables, Cowboy Caviar, and my Italian Salad are all excellent pairings for a complete meal!
I like chopping up the leftovers and using it in salads for a filling yet lighter meal.
Ingredient Notes:
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: The main ingredient here. I buy chicken breast fillets or chicken cutlets, which are thinly sliced breasts that turn out nice and tender.
You can also use regular chicken breasts and slice them through the middle horizontally to make thinner pieces.
Unsalted Butter: The true MVP! Butter brings creaminess and richness to the chicken breasts so that your taste buds dance and sing.
Fresh Garlic Cloves: Adjust the amount of garlic to your personal taste. I go fairly heavy. Fresh garlic makes all the difference here, so I recommend using it over pre-minced garlic from a jar or garlic powder. Nevertheless, substituting fresh garlic for 1 1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder works too.
Italian Seasoning: A little herbal infusion brings freshness to this easy main dish.
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season the butter mixture or the chicken breasts to your personal taste with salt and pepper.
Recipe Customizations:
- For bone-in skin on chicken thighs, or for boneless skinless chicken thighs, follow the instructions in my Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs recipe.
- Add in some fresh herbs, such as fresh parsley or some fresh thyme for a bigger infusion of herby flavor.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of onion powder into the garlic butter mixture for some extra flavor.
- For a kick of heat, add in some red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
- Turn the garlic sauce into a creamy adventure by transferring the pan drippings (after cooking the chicken) to a saucepan with 1/2 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup of cream and 2 to 3 teaspoons of flour. Whisk this mixture together over medium-high heat until thickened for a lovely gravy.
How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and lightly spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.
Microwave the butter until melted (or melt in a saucepan). Add in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper to the melted butter and stir well.
Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat it dry with paper towels if there is excess liquid. If you’re using full-sized chicken breasts, slice them in half through the middle horizontally to create thinner chicken filets that have an even thickness.
Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Spoon the garlic butter mixture over the breasts evenly.
You will have more than enough butter to generously coat the chicken, which is normal.
Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes (depending on the thickness of the breasts), or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Baste the breasts with the garlic butter mixture at the bottom of the pan halfway though baking using a spoon for basting.
Smaller, thinner breasts take about 20 minutes, where thicker breasts require about 30 minutes. Insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast to check for doneness.
Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve with your choice of side dishes, and enjoy! I love some basic brown rice or white rice and sauteed green beans or a green salad for pairing.
I recommend using the pan drippings (rich garlic butter sauce) for drizzling over the rest of your meal and a dusting of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to keep your meat thermometer handy! For juicy chicken breasts, bake until the chicken reaches 163 degrees F. Then, pull it from the oven and allow it to sit while it cooks to an extra few degrees. This way, you won’t end up with dry or rubbery chicken.
- For a golden brown crip, broil the chicken under the high broil setting for the last few minutes of baking.
- If you have an oven-safe large skillet such as a cast iron skillet or a stainless steel skillet, feel free to use it instead of a baking dish.
And that’s it! The next time chicken is on the menu, turn it into this dreamy loveboat! This garlic butter chicken breast recipe is perfect for meal prep and keeping on constant rotation for busy weeknights.
The flavorful garlic butter sauce is the best way to turn the humble chicken breast into an unforgettable meal!
If you love making chicken main dishes, also try some of these reader favorites.
More Chicken Main Dishes:
- Asian Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Copycat Chipotle Chicken
- Easy Baked Bone-in Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Mexican Shredded Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken and Apples
Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts , or chicken fillets/cutlets
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- ¾ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and lightly spray a casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Microwave the butter until melted (or melt in a saucepan). Add in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper to the melted butter and stir well.
- Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat it dry with paper towels if there is excess liquid. If you’re using full-sized chicken breasts, slice them in half through the middle horizontally to create thinner chicken filets that have an even thickness. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Spoon the garlic butter mixture over the breasts evenly. You will have more than enough butter to generously coat the chicken, which is normal.
- Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes (depending on the thickness of the breasts), or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Baste the breasts with the garlic butter mixture at the bottom of the pan halfway though baking using a spoon for basting. Smaller, thinner breasts take about 20 minutes, where thicker breasts require about 30 minutes. Insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken breast to check for doneness.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with your choice of side dishes, and enjoy! I love some basic brown rice or white rice and sauteed green beans or a green salad for pairing. I recommend using the pan drippings (rich garlic butter sauce) for drizzling over the rest of your meal and a dusting of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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