Perfect Stove-Top Chicken Breast

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This perfect stove top chicken breast is succulent, tender, and guaranteed to delight the senses with the herby garlic butter and crispy skin.

Chicken breast is an absolute staple in my house. Roasted, grilled, barbecued, it never fails to brings a range of side dishes together. There are a million ways to prepare it, but this stove top chicken breast has become one of my favorite recipes. Pan frying your chicken gives you so much more control over the cooking time and you can achieve that delicious crispy skin in mere minutes.

The garlic butter and seasoning in this dish will make your mouth water before you even taste it. So if your week is calling for a simple but delicious meal, look no further. Moist, tender, and easy to make, you will have everyone asking for seconds.

Why You Will Love This Recipe //

Nobody likes dry chicken. This dish is a foolproof way to get moist chicken every time.
Cooking your chicken in a pan on the stove top lets you monitor the chicken so you know exactly when it is done.
The flavors are mindbogglingly delicious, and don’t get me started on the aromas.
No ingredient is as versatile as chicken. Pair it with anything!

Ingredients //

Time to raid your pantry! This stove-top chicken’s ingredients primarily consist of herbs and spices you will likely have to hand already.

2 medium chicken breasts with skin
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried oregano
2 tbsp butter, soft
2 tsp fresh garlic, chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
½ cup chicken broth

How to Make Perfect Stove Top Chicken Breast // The Steps

Step 1: To make the garlic herb butter, combine the soft butter with the chopped garlic and chopped parsley. Set aside.

Step 2: Combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano, chopped thyme, and olive oil and season the chicken breast with it.

Step 3: Heat a skillet over high heat then add the seasoned chicken breasts skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes until the skin is crispy.

Step 4: Flip the Chicken Breasts and continue to cook for another 5 minutes until the chicken is done.

Step 5: Reduce the heat and add the garlic herb butter. Pour in the chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes Spoon the sauce over the chicken until it is coated with the broth.

Step 6: Remove the chicken from the heat and let rest for a few minutes, then serve. Enjoy!

Variations //

There are so many ways to add flavor to your chicken breast. The garlic herb butter and chicken stock is my preferred method, but here are a few other flavor combinations you can try:

Balsamic: Marinate your chicken breast in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, and garlic for at least an hour in the refrigerator before cooking. This gives the dish a delicious and tangy flavor.
Barbecue: Flavor your chicken the lazy way: coat it in barbecue sauce! You can make your own
Spicy: Incorporate spicy seasoning into your olive oil, like chili powder, paprika, cayenne, curry, and/or ginger. For a complimentary pairing, I would include some lime zest in there, too.
Honey mustard: Use my recipe for a delicious chicken marinade, using honey, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, and curry powder for incredible flavor.

Serving Suggestions //

You can go so many routes with this stove top chicken breast. I like to serve mine with veggies and potatoes, it really depends on what I am in the mood for that day and how much prep I feel like doing for dinner. But a roasted red pepper salad is an easy and refreshing starting point, and because you can’t go wrong with potatoes, I would serve either scalloped potatoes or a make-ahead mash.

This makes a great dinner, but what you can do with the leftovers is even more exciting. Slice up the chicken and have it in a sandwich, or chop it up for a salad.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast: Different Cooking Methods

This convenient table provides a summary of various methods for cooking chicken, along with their respective cooking times:

Cooking Method	Temperature	Time
Pan-seared (medium-high heat)	375°F	6-8 minutes per side
Simmered (low heat)	165°F	15-20 minutes
Braised (medium heat)	300°F	20-25 minutes
Pan-fried (medium heat)	350°F	8-10 minutes per side

FAQs //

Is it better to cook chicken breast in the oven or stove top?

Cooking chicken in a pan on the stove is my favorite method. I find that it is the most reliable way to get juicy, tender meat with a golden-seared skin. There is absolutely nothing wrong with cooking them in the oven, or you can even use an air fryer, but each method yields different results.

How do I know when my chicken breast is done?

Chicken breast usually needs 5 minutes from each side. The chicken breast is done when the meat thermometer shows an internal temperature of 160° F. You can also cut your chicken breast in half and check if the meat is white.

Can I use a brine for my chicken breast?

Yes, you can absolutely use a brine. A brine usually consists of a water-salt mixture, in which the chicken breast will sit in overnight in the fridge. Brining your chicken breast will increase its juiciness and flavor.

How to Store Perfect Stove Top Chicken Breast //

Let any leftover chicken breasts cool completely before you seal it in a Ziploc bag or food storage container. You can keep it in the refrigerator for 4 days, or the freezer for 3 months, depending on when you intend to eat it.

Defrost your frozen chicken in the refrigerator the night before you plan to serve it. Then, you can place it in an oiled pan on the stove for a few minutes each side until your chicken is heated through. You could also microwave it for a couple of minutes if you simply can’t wait for that next bite.