Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes: Amazing 4th Try

Name: Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes: Amazing 4th Try
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs); 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend (or mix of thyme, oregano, rosemary); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 cup chicken broth (reduced sodium recommended); 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic; Fresh parsley for garnish

By anna Boncoeur On December 5, 2025

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If your weeknight dinner routine feels more like a frantic marathon than a joyful gathering, then get ready for the Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes recipe to save your sanity! Hi there, I’m Anna, and I’m obsessed with proving that incredible flavor doesn’t need hours in the kitchen. I’ve spent years testing and tweaking simple chicken dishes to make everyday meals easier and way more delicious for busy folks like us.

This isn’t just fast; it’s genuinely fantastic. We’re talking tender, perfectly seared chicken breasts swimming in the richest, most aromatic garlic butter sauce you can imagine—all done before you’ve even fully unpacked your work bag. Trust me, this 20-minute promise is real, and it’s about to become your go-to, protein-packed weeknight hero.

Table Of content

Gathering Ingredients for Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

When you only have 20 minutes total, you can’t afford ingredient substitution fails! Getting the right items ready beforehand is half the battle won for this Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes recipe. We need high-impact flavors that cook fast, which means fresh garlic is non-negotiable, and we aren’t skimping on that butter!

Keep everything measured out and near the stove before you even turn the heat on. This prep work is what lets us hit that 20-minute mark without scrambling mid-sear. For the chicken, two boneless, skinless breasts are perfect for two servings, but don’t hesitate to use thighs if you prefer something extra juicy—they are way more forgiving!

Precise Measurements for Your Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

Accuracy matters here because we aren’t simmering for hours to build flavor; we are building it fast. Pay close attention to the garlic—it goes in right at the end, so don’t mince it until the very last second!

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Chicken Breasts	2	Boneless, skinless
Salt & Pepper	1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper	Season generously
Dried Herbs	1 teaspoon	Italian blend, or mix of thyme/oregano
Olive Oil	1 tablespoon	For searing
Chicken Broth	1/2 cup	Reduced sodium is best
Unsalted Butter	3 tablespoons	The star of the sauce!
Fresh Garlic	1 tablespoon	Must be fresh and minced
Parsley	For garnish	A little color makes it look fancy

Essential Equipment List

You don’t need a whole arsenal of fancy gadgets for this, thankfully! You just need a reliable pan that heats evenly. A good heavy-bottomed skillet is ideal because it holds heat well, which gives you that beautiful golden crust on the chicken.

Large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast iron or stainless steel works great)
Tongs (for flipping the chicken safely)
A small plate to rest the cooked chicken
Wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula (essential for scraping up those brown bits!)
Instant-read thermometer (this is key for safety and perfection)

Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

Okay, time to put on your apron! Since we are racing the clock, everything needs to happen quickly and confidently. The key to this whole Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes situation is managing the heat—we need high heat for searing and low heat for that beautiful sauce.

Preparing and Searing the Chicken

First things first: grab paper towels and pat those chicken breasts totally dry. Seriously, bone dry! Moisture is the enemy of a good sear. Once dry, season them aggressively on both sides with the salt, pepper, and your dried herbs. Don’t be shy; this is where most of our flavor foundation comes from.

Get your olive oil into that heavy skillet over medium-high heat. You want it shimmering, almost smoking a little bit. Carefully lay the chicken in the hot pan. You should hear a satisfying sizzle right away—if you don’t, the pan isn’t hot enough yet! Cook these beauties for about 4 to 8 minutes on the first side until they are deep golden brown. Then, flip them over and cook the other side until they hit 165°F (74°C) internally. Use that thermometer! Once they hit the magic number, pull them out onto a clean plate and cover them loosely with foil to rest while we make the magic happen in the pan.

Creating the Savory Garlic Butter Sauce

Now, drop the heat down to medium-low immediately. We do not want to burn that garlic we’re about to add! Toss in your three tablespoons of butter and pour in the half-cup of chicken broth. See all those brown, flavorful bits stuck to the bottom of the pan? That’s called fond, and it’s pure gold for flavor. Grab your wooden spoon and scrape every last bit of that goodness up into the liquid. That step is crucial for a deep, savory sauce in our Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes recipe.

Once the butter is melted and bubbling nicely, toss in that tablespoon of fresh, minced garlic. Sauté it for just about 60 seconds. You’ll know it’s ready when your kitchen smells amazing. But watch it like a hawk—if it turns dark brown, it gets bitter, and we have to start over!

Finishing Your Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

It’s time for the grand finale! Bring the heat up just slightly, maybe back to medium, and carefully place the rested chicken—and any juices that gathered on the plate—back into the skillet. We are just warming everything through and coating the chicken in that glorious sauce. Let it simmer and flip the pieces once or twice so they get completely drenched in the garlic butter goodness. This only takes a minute or two.

When the chicken is hot and coated, pull the pan off the burner. Spoon any extra sauce left in the pan right over the top of each piece. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh, bright green parsley. Serve this immediately, maybe over some quick rice or pasta, and enjoy your speedy dinner!

Tips for Success with Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

Even with a recipe this fast, a few little tricks can elevate it from good to absolutely incredible. If you want to make sure your Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes always comes out tasting like you spent an hour on it, listen up! The goal is maximum flavor extraction in minimum time, and that means paying attention to the small details.

If you’re worried about dry chicken breasts, I strongly suggest swapping them out for boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Thighs have more fat, so they stay juicy even if you accidentally cook them a minute too long. Also, if you slice your breasts horizontally into cutlets before seasoning, they cook much faster and more evenly, which helps you nail that 20-minute timing.

Adjusting Thickness and Flavor Profile

The sauce is super thin right now because we used broth, which is perfect for quick cooking, but if you want it thicker, you can easily fix that. Right before you return the chicken to the pan, whisk one teaspoon of cornstarch into two tablespoons of cold water, then stir that slurry into the simmering broth and butter. It will thicken up instantly!

For a flavor punch that really sings, add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice right at the very end, just before garnishing. That acid cuts through the richness of the butter beautifully. If you like heat, toss in a pinch or two of red pepper flakes along with the minced garlic. And please, please, please, skip the garlic powder. Fresh garlic is the engine of this Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes recipe; powder just won’t give you that bright, pungent flavor we need in such a short cooking window.

Variations on Savory Garlic Butter Chicken

This basic framework is so amazing because it’s incredibly flexible. If you have some veggies hanging around that need using up, you can absolutely toss them in! The key is adding them at the right time so they cook fast enough.

Right after you remove the chicken to rest, toss in a handful of spinach or some thinly sliced mushrooms with the butter and broth. They wilt down or soften in the time it takes the garlic to cook, adding bulk and nutrients without stretching our 20-minute timeline. You can also easily swap out the Italian herbs for smoked paprika and cumin if you want a little Southwestern flair instead of Mediterranean. For more quick chicken ideas, check out my skillet bang bang chicken thighs.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding capers when you add the garlic. Their salty, briny pop pairs wonderfully with the richness of the butter and chicken, making it feel like a gourmet dish.

Storing and Reheating Your Quick Chicken Meal

Even though this is such a quick chicken dinner, sometimes we just have leftovers, and that’s okay! Store your finished Garlic Butter Chicken in an airtight container. It keeps really well in the fridge for about three to four days. The sauce might look a little separated when it cools down, but don’t panic; that’s just the butter solidifying.

The absolute best way to reheat this is gently. Never blast it in the microwave on high, or you’ll toughen up that chicken breast right away. Instead, use low heat on the stovetop. I always add a tiny splash of extra chicken broth or water to the pan first. This steam helps reintroduce moisture and melts that garlic butter back into a beautiful sauce perfectly. If you enjoy easy, flavorful chicken, you might also like my recipe for easy creamy oven baked chicken thighs recipe.

Storage Method	Duration	Reheating Tip
Airtight Container (Fridge)	3-4 Days	Low heat on stovetop with a splash of broth
Airtight Container (Freezer)	Up to 2 Months	Thaw overnight before reheating gently

Frequently Asked Questions About Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes

I get so many questions about this recipe because it’s a lifesaver on busy nights! Here are the ones I hear most often about making this Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes happen.

Q1. Can I really use chicken thighs for this recipe?

Yes, absolutely! Chicken thighs are fantastic here. They hold up better to searing and stay juicier. You might need to cook them 1-2 minutes longer per side compared to breasts, but it’s still a super quick chicken dinner, so you’re still well within that 20-minute window.

Q2. What if I don’t have dried Italian herbs? Can I skip them?

You can, but I really recommend using something! If you don’t have an Italian blend, just grab a mix of dried oregano and dried thyme—about a half teaspoon of each works well. Skipping the seasoning makes it taste a bit flat, and we want maximum flavor for this easy weeknight chicken! For more quick dinner inspiration, follow my boards on Pinterest.

Q3. My garlic burned when I added it. What went wrong?

Oops! That’s the trickiest part of the Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes process. You must turn the heat down to medium-low *before* adding the butter and broth. If the pan is too hot, the garlic browns in seconds. You only need about a minute for the garlic to become fragrant; if it looks dark, toss it and start fresh with new garlic—it’s worth the extra 30 seconds!

Q4. How can I make this recipe for four people without doubling the cook time?

To keep this an actual Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes meal, instead of using four thick breasts, slice all four breasts horizontally into thin cutlets first. This increases the surface area, and they will cook through on medium-high heat in about 3 minutes per side. Then, you just double the sauce ingredients! If you prefer a different quick chicken preparation, consider my Hawaiian style teriyaki chicken.

Nutritional Estimates for This Recipe

Just a quick note: these numbers are estimates based on the ingredients listed and are meant as a general guideline. They don’t account for any additions you might make, like that extra drizzle of butter or lemon juice!

Nutrient	Amount Per Serving
Calories	320
Protein	28g
Total Fat	22g
Carbohydrates	2g
Sugar	Low

Share Your Speedy Dinner Success

I truly hope this recipe brings some joy and speed back to your kitchen routine! Now that you’ve made the Garlic Butter Chicken 20 Minutes, I absolutely need to know how it went. Did you manage to get it on the table in under 20 minutes? Drop a rating below and tell me what you served it with. Hearing from you makes all this recipe testing worthwhile!