Easy Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Name: Easy Pan Seared Chicken Breast
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts; 1 tsp kosher salt; ½ tsp garlic powder; ¼ tsp black pepper; ½ tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp butter; ½ yellow onion - finely diced; Squeeze of lemon juice; 1 cup chicken broth

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By:

Madeline

Updated: March 17, 2025

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Make juicy and flavorful Pan Seared Chicken Breast with this easy recipe. Just sear seasoned chicken and toss in a simple chicken pan sauce.

close up above view of seared chicken breast in a skillet with an onion pan sauce

Quick

Beginner-friendly

You’ll Learn: How to sear chicken breasts to keep them juicy and full of flavor

Worth It: It’s a satisfying, protein-forward option that actually keeps you full

Bonus: Customize the flavors easily with different herbs or wine

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Juicy and tender chicken breast – it can be hard to make chicken taste delicious in a short amount of time, but with this simple pan-seared chicken breasts recipe you can make a super flavorful and moist chicken breast. Cooking chicken breast quickly in a warm skillet keeps the moisture locked inside.
Flavorful pan sauce – use the browned bits in the bottom of the pan to make a delicious chicken pan sauce. Serve the chicken with lots of this sauce and any side dishes you like.
Versatile – there are so many ways to serve this simple chicken recipe. I like to make it for an easy dinner, but it is also great for meal prep.
Customizable – change the type of chicken you are using or the ingredients for the pan sauce to easily alter the flavor of the recipe.

Pan seared chicken breast with an onion pan sauce on a dinner plate with red skin mashed potatoes

Serving Suggestions

There are so many ways to enjoy this versatile chicken breast recipe. This basic protein goes well with so many different side dishes. It is perfect for a romantic dinner with some creamy mashed potatoes and crispy maple bacon brussel sprouts. I also love serving it with some air fryer butternut squash for an easy meal.

The incredible pan sauce is incredible when drizzled over mashed red potatoes. I like to slice the pan-seared chicken breasts prior to serving this simple recipe so that the delicious sauce really coats the chicken.

I also like to serve it with my lemon kale caesar or with veggie couscous salad for a healthier meal.

What Kind of Pan is Best for Searing?

To get an even and crisp sear on a piece of chicken you will want to use a thick, heavy bottom pan like a cast iron skillet or enameled cast iron skillet. I personally like to use an enameled braising pan because it comes with a top.

If you are looking for other chicken recipes made in a cast iron skillet try these cast iron chicken thighs or this cast iron baked bone in chicken breast.

ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken breasts – use two chicken breasts and slice each one into 2 thinner fillets so you have 4 pieces total
Salt, garlic powder and black pepper – season the chicken simply with the simple seasoning blend of these three items or add additional spices to change the flavor slightly.
Extra virgin olive oil – for searing the chicken in the hot skillet. You can use any kind of cooking oil that you like to use. I sometimes use avocado oil.
Butter – use unsalted butter for sauteeing the yellow onions. This is the base of the pan sauce.
Yellow onion – finely dice a yellow onion to add lots of flavor to the chicken pan sauce.
Lemon juice – use fresh lemon juice, a splash of white wine or a splash of vinegar to deglaze the pan. This helps lift the flavor from the seared chicken off the bottom of the pan.
Chicken broth – thicken the pan sauce by simmering the sauteed onions in chicken broth, chicken bone broth or chicken stock.

Recipe variations

You can make small changes to the ingredients to change this recipe adn still make it super delicious. Use boneless skinless chicken thighs or bone-in skin-on chicken thighs in place of the chicken beasts. This chicken thigh skin will get nice and crispy when searing, but they will take a little longer to be fully cooked through.

Use diced shallots or red onion in place of the yellow onion for flavoring the pan sauce. You can also use a dry white wine in place of the lemon juice to deglaze the pan.

Add extra flavor to the simple chicken pan sauce by simmering fresh herbs with the chicken broth. I like to use a few sprigs of fresh thyme, rosemary or oregano.

Change up the dry seasoning blend to add even more flavor to this simple pan-seared chicken breast. I like to use onion powder, smoked paprika, or even a little bit of cayenne pepper.

Tips and tricks

It is important to use the proper pan to get a good sear on the outside of the chicken breasts. I find the best pan to use is either a stainless steel skillet, cast iron skillet or enameled cast iron skillet. Use a large skillet so that the chicken has space to breath.
Use an instant-read thermometer or meat thermometer in order to ensure that the chicken is properly cooked. Insert thermometer into the thickest part of the breast and check the temperature. For juicy chicken breasts, do not cook past 165F
For even flavor, season chicken liberally all over the outside of the breasts

a picture of seasoned chicken on a plate next to a picture of seared chicken in a skillet

How To Make

Step 1: season and sear chicken breast

To begin, slice each chicken breast in half lengthways so you have 2 thinner pieces. If the thickness of the chicken breasts seems very uneven, you can tenderize and thin the meat slightly with a meat mallet.

Mix salt, garlic powder and pepper in a small bow. Season the chicken pieces on both sides (Image 1).

Then, heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When the oil is warm add the chicken to the pan.

Let the chicken cook 5 minutes, then, flip and cook 5 minutes on the other side. (Image 2). You want the chicken to get golden brown before you remove from the pan. The key to pan-searing chicken is to make sure that there are lots of browned bits in the pan for extra flavor.

A picture of onions sauteing in a skillet next to a picture of lemon juice deglazing onions in a skillet

Step 2: Saute onions and deglaze pan

Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter and diced onions to the pan (Image 3). Saute for 5 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice into the pan to deglaze the bottom (Image 4). Scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon as the lemon juice sizzles.

a picture of chicken broth pouring into a pan sauce next to a picture of seared chicken breasts going into a skillet with a pan sauce

Step 3: Prepare pan sauce and toss chicken in it

Then, pour in the chicken broth and simmer for about 10 minutes (Image 5). The amount of liquid should reduce by half.

Add the seared chicken into the pan and toss in the sauce (Image 6). Check the internal temperature of the chicken breast and make sure it is at least 165F. Turn off the heat and serve with any extra sauce spooned over the top.

Pan seared chicken breast cut into two with an onion pan sauce on a dinner plate with red skin mashed potatoes

Storage and Reheating

Allow the chicken to cool completely and then transfer to an airtight container in the fridge. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until warmed through. You can also reheat in a skillet in the oven at 275F for 15-20 minutes.

Check out these delicious side dishes

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

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