Brown butter sage skillet chicken – juicy chicken breasts, rich sage-infused browned butter, white wine, and a squeeze of lemon juice combine in the most delicious 30-minute chicken dinner.
Call me basic, but the simple skillet chicken dinner is a definite heavy-hitter in our dinner rotation. And this is one chicken recipe we come back to time and again.
I especially love it as the calendar begins turning to fall. Browned butter and sage are amazing any time of year, of course, but something about the warm, heady aroma and flavors are especially appealing with the prospect of leaves changing soon!
And a squeeze of lemon is always a good idea, right?
How to keep chicken breasts juicy
This recipe starts with the same basic concept from my go-to simple lemon thyme chicken, which is also the foundation of this reader-favorite chicken bruschetta with balsamic glaze. Chicken breasts, cut or pounded thin, generously seasoned with salt and pepper and dredged in a light layer of flour before being cooked in a sizzling skillet.
The seasoning and coating locks in flavor and allows the chicken to form a nice little crust, keeping it juicy and moist. After all, there’s nothing worse than a flavorless or dry chicken breast!
Sauce and sides
After the chicken is cooked, a simple pan sauce is all that stands between you and dinner! As a bonus, the sauce is perfect to drizzle over any sides you might make. Some of my favorites with this would be:
- orzo or other light pasta
- arugula or other salad greens
- roasted broccolini or asparagus
- cubed and roasted sweet potatoes
And definitely don’t forget a loaf of crusty bread to sop up the rest of the sauce! You won’t want to let a drop of browned butter sage goodness go to waste!
Simple and delicious, brown butter sage skillet chicken is the ultimate weeknight comfort food.
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - sliced or pounded thin
- kosher salt
- freshly-ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter - divided
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil - divided
- 1/3 cup fresh sage leaves (a generous handful)
- juice of 1/2 lemon - use the other half for serving as wedges
- 1/2 cup white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
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Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl or plate, then dredge each piece of chicken through it to form a light coating, shaking gently to remove any excess.
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Add 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. When butter melts, add the chicken and saute for 2-3 minutes per side, until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove the chicken to a plate, cover with foil, and set aside.
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Add remaining 4 tablespoons butter to the skillet. When butter has melted, add sage leaves. Allow the butter to brown and bubble, about 2-3 minutes, until it begins to give off a warm, nutty aroma. Remove sage to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving butter in the skillet.
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Add lemon juice and wine or broth to the skillet. Simmer the mixture for 2-3 minutes, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Taste sauce and adjust with more salt and pepper, if desired. When the sauce is slightly thickened, return chicken to the skillet to warm through, then top with sage, garnish with additional lemon wedges, and serve.
You might also like this one-pot cashew chicken and rice – one of our family favorites – or creamy Tuscan chicken with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. And for lots more simple chicken dinner ideas, don’t miss this great round-up of 21 favorite chicken breast recipes on Girl Gone Gourmet!
10 Comments
Denise Browning
September 5, 2018 at 9:50 pmMy type of meal, easy and delish!
Monica | Nourish + Fete
September 5, 2018 at 10:21 pmThanks Denise, I’m with you on both counts!
Aleta
August 31, 2018 at 12:11 pmWow this recipe looks AMAZING! I love that you describe how to keep chicken breasts juicy, and your photos are beautiful! Can’t wait to try this delicious looking dish. Thanks for sharing!
Monica | Nourish + Fete
August 31, 2018 at 1:21 pmThanks so much, Aleta, your kind words and feedback mean a lot to me! I hope you enjoy the chicken and would love to hear how it goes for you!
Krissy Allori
August 28, 2018 at 1:02 amI’m always looking for more chicken recipes! The lemon sounds amazing with the chicken!
Bethany | A Simple Palate
August 27, 2018 at 10:30 pmI’m such a big fan of all these ingredients! Sage, lemon, and chicken sounds absolute DELICIOUS together – Definitely saving this recipe!
Tisha
August 27, 2018 at 10:21 pmSuch a gorgeous dish! Love sage! great addition!
Iryna Bychkiv
August 27, 2018 at 10:15 pmI love sage infused brown butter, it adds so much flavor to any recipe. This skillet chicken looks easy and delicious. I’ll try to make it soon for my family.
Kelly Anthony
August 27, 2018 at 9:39 pmBrown butter and sage is such a classic combo! And, for good reason 🙂 This looks delicious! Healthy and light, yet so comforting!
Sandi
August 27, 2018 at 9:12 pmI think you described heaven in a pan! I never thought to cook chicken this way!