Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe: 5 Quick Tips For Juicy Chicken

Name: Butter Chicken Skillet
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (Lean protein that sears quickly and stays tender when finished in sauce.); 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (Fresh, herbal finish.); 2 tablespoons olive oil (High smoke point oil for a golden sear.); ¼ cup unsalted butter (Creates a silky, restaurant-style pan sauce.); 2 teaspoons honey (Balances savory butter and smoky paprika.); 1 teaspoon garlic powder (Reliable garlic flavor that will not burn.); 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (Gentle smoke depth without pork.); ½ teaspoon salt (Seasons chicken and sauce.); ½ teaspoon black pepper (Mild heat and aroma.); ¼ cup chicken broth (Deglazes browned bits and thins the butter sauce just enough.)

Craving a fast chicken dinner with a glossy, spoon worthy sauce? This Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe gives you golden seared breasts in a garlicky honey butter pan sauce that tastes like steakhouse comfort at home. Everything happens in one pan with pantry spices and a quick deglaze. You get tender chicken, rich flavor, and minimal cleanup in under 30 minutes.

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Learn more about weeknight-friendly chicken pasta wins: Chicken Spaghetti Recipe – Easy, Creamy & Crowd-Pleasing Classic.

Why This Recipe

This Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe is weeknight friendly and company worthy. It uses simple ingredients you already have and turns them into a balanced sauce with smoky paprika, a hint of honey, and plenty of butter for shine. The chicken stays juicy thanks to quick searing and a short simmer in broth.

It is also a great base recipe for customization. Add a little heat, brighten with lemon, or swap sides to match your menu. No alcohol and no pork needed to deliver big flavor.

Why You Will Love Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe

One skillet, simple steps, fast cleanup
Pantry spices that never overwhelm
Consistently juicy chicken using clear doneness cues
Flexible heat and sweetness levels
Meal prep friendly for lunches and leftovers
Crowd pleasing flavor that feels like a restaurant classic

Discover great ideas like flavor-boosting finishes: 3-Ingredient Garlic Butter – Easy, Flavorful, and Fast.

Ingredients You Will Need

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped – fresh, herbal finish

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – lean protein that sears quickly and stays tender when finished in sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil – high smoke point oil for a golden sear

¼ cup unsalted butter – creates a silky, restaurant style pan sauce

2 teaspoons honey – balances savory butter and smoky paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder – reliable garlic flavor that will not burn

1 teaspoon smoked paprika – gentle smoke depth without pork

½ teaspoon salt – seasons chicken and sauce

½ teaspoon black pepper – mild heat and aroma

¼ cup chicken broth – deglazes browned bits and thins the butter sauce just enough

Substitutions & Add Ins

Chicken: use cutlets or tenders for quicker cook times. Boneless thighs work for extra juiciness.
Dairy free: swap butter with a quality dairy free butter stick plus a drizzle of olive oil for sheen.
Heat level: add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes.
Citrus brightness: finish with 1 to 2 teaspoons lemon juice.
Gluten friendly: all listed ingredients are naturally gluten friendly.
Herbs: swap parsley for chives or thyme.

Step by Step Instructions

Flatten for even cooking: Lightly pound chicken to an even ½ to ¾ inch thickness. Pat very dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
Sear: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. When shimmering, add chicken and sear 4 to 5 minutes until deep golden. Flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.
Build the sauce base: Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and melt, scraping up browned bits for flavor.
Sweeten and balance: Stir in honey until dissolved.
Deglaze: Add chicken broth and simmer 30 to 60 seconds, stirring, until slightly reduced and glossy.
Finish the chicken: Return chicken to the skillet and spoon sauce over the tops. Simmer 2 to 4 minutes, or until the thickest part reaches 165°F.
Rest and garnish: Remove from heat. Rest 3 minutes so juices redistribute. Sprinkle with parsley.
Serve: Spoon extra sauce over each piece. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, or green beans.

Why it matters: Searing builds flavor and keeps moisture in. Deglazing lifts the fond so the butter sauce tastes rich without heavy cream.
Visual cues: Sauce should be glossy and lightly thickened. Chicken is opaque with clear juices.

Tips for Perfect Results

Pound chicken to even thickness for uniform cooking.
Pat dry before searing to avoid steaming.
Do not overcrowd the pan or you will lose browning.
Keep heat at medium once butter goes in to prevent browning too fast.
Taste the sauce at the end and adjust salt, honey, or lemon to your preference.
Rest chicken briefly to lock in juices.
Reheat gently to keep the sauce emulsified.

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Serving Ideas & Variations

Classic plate: serve with garlic mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli.
Lighter side: pair with a simple salad and lemony rice.
Spicy version: add a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Herby: finish with extra parsley and chives.
Citrus twist: add lemon zest and a quick squeeze right before serving.

Storage, Freezing & Reheating

Fridge: store in an airtight container up to 3 to 4 days.
Freezer: freeze chicken with sauce up to 2 months. Cool completely before sealing.
Thaw: overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: warm in a skillet over medium with a splash of broth 4 to 6 minutes, or microwave 60 to 90 seconds, stirring sauce once.

Recipe FAQs

Does Texas Roadhouse have a u0022Butter Chicken Skilletu0022 on their menu?

No, Texas Roadhouse does not have a menu item called Butter Chicken Skillet. Their menu features several skillet dishes, such as Smothered Chicken, and other chicken specialties, but Butter Chicken Skillet is not among them. The term may be a misunderstanding or a home recipe inspired by the restaurant style.

What is Butter Chicken and how is it different from Texas Roadhouse’s chicken dishes?

Butter Chicken, also called Murgh Makhani, is an Indian dish with chicken simmered in a spiced tomato and butter sauce. It has a creamy, aromatic profile that is different from the grilled, fried, or smothered chicken dishes found at Texas Roadhouse, which lean American steakhouse and Southern comfort.

What is the Texas Roadhouse Butter I see in so many recipes?

Texas Roadhouse Butter refers to a popular copycat of the whipped honey cinnamon butter served with the restaurant rolls. It is sweet and salty and often recreated at home.

Are there any skillet based chicken dishes at Texas Roadhouse?

Yes. Texas Roadhouse offers Smothered Chicken, a marinated grilled chicken breast topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions, and melted cheese, often served in a skillet. It is not Butter Chicken.

Conclusion

This Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe delivers golden seared chicken and a silky honey garlic butter sauce with simple ingredients and one pan. It is fast, flexible, and friendly for a variety of sides. If you make it, please leave a comment and star rating to help others find it, and share on Pinterest or Facebook. What side would you serve with this skillet chicken tonight?

Check out a quick appetizer to round out the meal: Ricotta Dip with Hot Honey.

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