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4.8 from 12 votes

Easy Sauteed Chicken

This easy sauteed chicken breast recipe is delicious and only takes about 20 minutes to make (pan sauce included). Juicy pan-seared chicken breast that’s perfect for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 376 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Chicken breast:
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts 7-8 oz/ 200-230 g each
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt, Note 1
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon butter
Sauce (Note 2):
  • 3 small shallots or 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • ¼ cup dry white wine 60 ml
  • 1 cup chicken stock 230 ml
  • 1 medium lemon the juice
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar more to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons butter about 1 oz/ 30 g

Instructions

Chicken:
    Cup of Yum
  1. Pound the breast pieces with a meat mallet between two layers of plastic wrap until they are evenly thick (Note 3). 4 chicken breasts
  2. Season: Mix the spices in a small bowl. Pat the chicken dry and rub it with one tablespoon of olive oil. Then rub it with the spices. 1 teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon pepper + 1 teaspoon sweet paprika + ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  3. Sauté: Heat the remaining oil and the butter in the skillet. Cook the chicken breasts on medium heat for 4 minutes, flip, and cook for another 5 minutes. Turn the heat down a bit if the skillet is getting too hot and the pieces are browning too fast. 1 tablespoon oil + 1 tablespoon butter
  4. Check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer; it should be 165°F/ 74°C. If the temperature is not safe yet, continue cooking the chicken until it reaches the safe temperature (Note 4).
  5. Rest: Transfer to a warm plate and let it rest while you make the sauce. Or let it rest for 4-5 minutes anyway if you don’t make the sauce.
Sauce:
  1. Let the skillet cool down for a few minutes (Note 5).
  2. Sauté: Melt the butter in the skillet. Cook the finely chopped shallots over medium-low heat for about 3 minutes until softer and golden. Don’t let it get brown; turn the heat down if necessary. Add the finely minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. 1 tablespoon oil + 3 shallots onion + 3 garlic cloves
  3. Pour in the white wine, scrape the bottom of the pan, and let the wine bubble off for about 30 seconds. Add the stock and simmer the sauce until it is slightly reduced. ¼ cup/ 60 ml white wine + 1 cup/ 230 ml chicken stock
  4. Whisk in the lemon juice, mustard, and butter; the sauce should be slightly thick and glossy. juice of 1 lemon + 1 tablespoon mustard + 2 Tbsp/ 30 g butter
  5. Serve: Spoon the sauce on the chicken breast pieces and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Seasoning: You can use about 2 teaspoons of chicken or universal seasoning. As they usually contain salt, you might not need to add any salt to the chicken. However, if you use spices from your cupboard, don’t forget to salt the chicken.
  • The sauce is optional but so delicious. You can serve the sauteed chicken with any other sauce or use the breasts for other recipes.
  • If the breast pieces are very large and thick, you can slice them lengthwise to reduce the cooking time.
  • Cooking time: For small to medium ones, 8-9 minutes should be enough; larger pieces (9 oz/ 250 g or more) will need more time, up to 13-15 minutes.
  • Pan: This is particularly important if you use a cast-iron skillet, they can get very hot, and it takes a few minutes for them to cool down a bit. If they are too hot, the shallots will burn quickly once you add them to the skillet.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1chicken breast Calories 376kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 13g (4%) Protein 27g (54%) Fat 23g (35%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 11g Trans Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 97mg (32%) Sodium 923mg (38%) Potassium 630mg (18%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 563IU (11%) Vitamin C 18mg (20%) Calcium 35mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 376

% Daily Value*

Serving 1chicken breast
Calories 376kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 13g 4%
Protein 27g 54%
Fat 23g 35%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 11g 55%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 97mg 32%
Sodium 923mg 38%
Potassium 630mg 13%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 563IU 11%
Vitamin C 18mg 20%
Calcium 35mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.