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Brown Butter Sage Skillet Chicken is a long-time favorite! 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 that feels worthy of any restaurant.

Small plate with a chicken breast cooked in a brown butter sage white sauce served with egg noodles and extra sage leaves.

Best Sage Chicken

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. In fact, this post was originally published six years ago — and it’s still a family favorite!

I originally began making this as the calendar turned to fall, because I often had extra sage sitting around from making turkey, stuffing, and other seasonal treats. But it turns out that the warm, heady aroma and flavors of browned butter and sage are absolutely amazing any time of year.

And a squeeze of lemon is always a good idea, right?

Ingredient & Substitution Notes

Labeled overhead photo of chicken breasts seasoned with kosher salt and black pepper, chicken broth, butter, fresh sage leaves, olive oil, flour, and half of a lemon, all in prep bowls and ready to cook.

Here are a few notes and shopping tips about the ingredients you’ll need. Find full amounts in the print-friendly recipe card below.

  • Chicken breasts. For best results, use thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts, which cook quickly! You can purchase chicken this way, though it’s usually more economical to purchase standard chicken breasts and butterfly them yourself by slicing through the middle. Chicken thighs also work but will take longer to cook.
  • All-purpose flour. This helps the chicken form a delicious light crust as it cooks. Substitute almond flour or just skip this step to keep the dish gluten-free.
  • Butter.
  • Olive oil.
  • Fresh sage. Fresh sage leaves are crucial for the right flavor here.
  • Lemon. Juice half of one lemon into the sauce, and cut the other half into slices or wedges to serve with the chicken. It looks pretty and gives citrus lovers an easy way to up the effect.
  • White wine or chicken broth. Use either of these, or a mix, to make the sauce. If using broth or chicken stock, aim for a low-sodium variety. You can always season the sauce with more salt to taste.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper.

How To Make Sage Skillet Chicken

This recipe starts with the same basic concept as my go-to lemon thyme chicken, which is also the foundation of this reader favorite bruschetta chicken 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! But with a good technique, you can ensure your chicken comes out deliciously, every time.

Seared chicken breasts resting on a white plate.

Pro Tip

Cooking time for the chicken will depend a lot on how thickly it is sliced. Very thick chicken breasts take way too long to cook in a skillet and are prone to dry out on the outside before the inside reaches a safe temperature. For best results, either buy chicken breasts that are already labeled “thin-sliced” or grab a sharp knife and slice thick chicken breasts right through the middle so you get two thinner pieces, which will cook beautifully and more quickly.

Brown Butter Sage Sauce

After the chicken is cooked, a simple pan sauce is all that stands between you and dinner. You’ll melt extra butter in the pan and crisp the sage in it as it bubbles and browns.

As a bonus, this sauce is dreamy to drizzle over any sides you might make.

Sage leaves added to a pan with butter.
Crisped sage leaves in a skillet with browned butter.

Return the chicken breasts to the pan and spoon the sauce generously on top. Add the crisped sage and dinner is done!

Close up of a brown butter sage chicken breast in a skillet with lemon wedges nearby.

Serving Suggestions

Some of my favorites with this include egg noodles, orzo, or another light pasta; roasted broccolini, baby carrots, or asparagus; or cubed and roasted sweet potatoes. A light salad is always perfect, as well.

Small white plate with a serving of egg noodles and brown butter sage skillet chicken.

Storage & Reheating

I personally consider leftover sage chicken to be an example of extreme good fortune. 🙂

  • Storage: Place leftover pieces of chicken in any airtight container, top with sauce and extra sage leaves, and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. (These are our favorite meal prep boxes for the fridge.)
  • Warming: Reheat on 50% power in the microwave until warmed through. Using half power reduces the odds that your chicken will dry out in the microwave; it’s worth the extra few seconds it takes. You can also warm in a small covered skillet if needed. Add a splash of broth or water if needed to thin out the sauce a bit.

I have yet to try freezing this dish. I’ll share results if I do in the future!

Overhead view of a skillet containing chicken breasts with a brown butter sage white wine sauce.

Related Recipes

In the market for more quick and easy chicken dinners? You might also like this one-pot cashew chicken and rice, creamy Tuscan chicken with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, or a more recent favorite of ours, a 20-minute Cajun butter chicken skillet. Creamy lemon chicken, chicken Florentine, and lemon chicken pasta also always hit the spot!

If you try this Brown Butter Sage Skillet Chicken recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below. I love hearing how recipes turn out in your kitchen, and it helps other readers, too.

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Small plate with a chicken breast cooked in a brown butter sage white sauce served with egg noodles and extra sage leaves.
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4.77 from 55 votes

Brown Butter Sage Skillet Chicken

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Simple and delicious, brown butter sage skillet chicken is the ultimate weeknight comfort food.

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced or pounded thin
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter divided
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 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

Instructions

  • 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.
    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, kosher salt and black pepper, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • Add 2 Tablespoons of the butter and 2 Tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. When butter melts, add the chicken and sauté for 2-4 minutes per side, until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove the chicken to a plate, cover with foil, and set aside. 
    6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 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.
    1/3 cup fresh sage leaves
  • 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.
    juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 cup white wine or low-sodium chicken broth

Notes

  • Cooking time for the chicken will depend a lot on how thickly it is sliced. A very thick chicken breast will take way too long to cook in a skillet and is prone to drying out on the outside before the inside reaches a safe temperature. For best results, either buy chicken breasts that are already labeled “thin-sliced” or grab your sharp chef’s knife and slice thick chicken breasts right through the middle so you get two thinner pieces, which will cook more beautifully and more quickly.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 403 kcal, Carbohydrates: 8 g, Protein: 25 g, Fat: 27 g, Saturated Fat: 13 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 117 mg, Sodium: 135 mg, Potassium: 481 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 0.4 g, Vitamin A: 716 IU, Vitamin C: 2 mg, Calcium: 59 mg, Iron: 2 mg
Did you make this recipe?Leave a review below, then snap a quick picture and tag @nourishandfete on Instagram so I can see it!
Author: Monica Lensink
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sage chicken, skillet chicken

This post was originally published on August 26, 2018, and has been updated with new photos and more helpful information on cooking technique, serving suggestions, and related recipes. The recipe is the same.