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Skillet Chicken and Potatoes – an easy weeknight dinner with loads of flavor from the fresh thyme, garlic and lemon butter sauce.
Made on the stovetop in about 45 minutes, this family friendly chicken and potatoes recipe is sure to please!
What kind of potatoes work best in this recipe?
Any small potato will do nicely in this easy skillet chicken dish. Fingerling, red, tiny new potatoes or small white potatoes all work well. If you have larger potatoes on hand, just cut them into quarters for pieces so they’ll cook quickly. It’s all good!
Garlic and lemon is a great combo, especially when paired with chicken and potatoes!
The simplicity of this dish is one of the things I love most about it. The fresh and dominant flavors of lemon and garlic are front and center in both the chicken and potatoes. To compliment the bright lemon flavor, we use plenty of fresh thyme leaves for that herby punch. If you don’t have fresh thyme on hand, feel free to substitute dried thyme.
Can you use anything other than chicken breast pieces in this recipe?
I’m one of those folks that loves chicken breasts, so they’re often my first choice. For this dish you can use chicken tenders, chicken cutlets or boneless, skinless chicken thighs in place of the chicken breasts. They all work very well in one skillet meals like this. If you use something other than chicken breasts, adjust the cooking time, up or down as needed. As with most chicken breast recipes, make sure you don’t over cook the chicken!
Serve this skillet chicken and potatoes with a fresh green vegetable, or salad, for a complete meal.
We usually serve something green and fresh with a dish like this. Our favorite roasted green beans are a great choice, or in spring there’s nothing better than fresh asparagus. If you’re craving a tossed salad, this homemade Creamy Italian Dressing has the perfect flavor profile to compliment the lemon infused chicken.
Whatever you have on hand that is fresh and light will be the perfect side for our skillet chicken and potatoes.
Our chicken and potatoes are pan roasted, not simmered in sauce.
This dish does not have a lot of sauce to simmer the chicken and potatoes. Everything is pan seared then tossed in garlic, butter and lemon juice. You can always add more butter or lemon juice, or even a little splash of chicken broth. Personally, I prefer the crispy edges on the potatoes and those would be lost if the spuds are steamed.
Think of this recipe more like a sheet pan meal, made on the stove top!
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Skillet Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients
For the potatoes:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 pound small potatoes, fingerling, red, tiny new or white halved
For the chicken:
- 4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1+ pound)
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (divided)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 lemon sliced thin
For the butter sauce:
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- juice of ½ a lemon
Instructions
For the potatoes:
- In a large skillet with a lid, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon thyme, and ½ teaspoon of salt and pepper. Add the potatoes and toss gently to coat. Arrange the potatoes cut side down, then cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove potatoes to a clean plate, tent loosely and set aside.
For the chicken:
- While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the chicken. Dry chicken breasts with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons butter in the now-empty skillet. Add the chicken and cook until well browned on one side, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the chicken and sprinkle with the garlic and 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves. Cover each breast with sliced lemon.
- Push the chicken to one side the skillet. On the empty side of the skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Add the potatoes back into the pan and toss in the garlic butter sauce. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (160°F) and the potatoes are tender.
- Drizzle the chicken and potatoes with fresh lemon juice and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if desired.
Nutrition
Here are a few more chicken breast recipes you might enjoy:
Skillet Chicken and Mushroom Wine Sauce
Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
Erika Ramos
Oh wow! The recipe is super easy to make and DELICIOUS!!! I loved it
Tricia Buice
Thanks Erika. We truly appreciate the feedback.
Shirley
I m.waiting to make it..looks yummy and healthy
Tricia Buice
Enjoy this easy chicken recipe Shirley!
Meerte
This dish was absolutely delicious! Chicken was tender, full of flavour. Potatoes, wow! What an excellent combination. And so easy – total bonus – Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Meerte! I’m thrilled you enjoyed this recipe. Nothing like comfort food! Thanks for taking the time to comment 😁
Christabel
I tried to cook this, but the chicken breasts were nowhere near cooked after the time the recipe stated. Maybe slice the breasts in half or quarters to speed up cooking time? I was very disappointed with the inaccuracy of the cooking times.
Tricia Buice
Sorry you were disappointed Christabel. Perhaps you used thicker, bigger chicken breasts instead of the small pieces indicated in the recipe. As chicken sizes vary from package to package, you must always use your best judgment when adjusting cooking times. The recipe also mentions that the chicken should reach 160 degrees F to be cooked through. I believe it would be worse to end up over cooking the chicken and try to eat dried out rubbery bird.
Jeanette Pena
I just finished making this dish.
Omg, It’s delicious!
Thank you so much 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks Jeanette! So glad you enjoyed this simple dish. We appreciate you taking the time to comment and for trying this recipe.
David Bomkamp
Very good! My wife and I loved it. It is easy to make and has great flavor.
Thanks for this. May all of you and your family be well!
Tricia Buice
Thank you David! We appreciate you trying the recipe and letting us know how it worked out for you. Stay safe!
2 sisters recipes
A wonderful chicken dish Tricia!! Love al the ingredients in this one! Wishing you and your family well and safe! 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thanks so much Anna!
Larry
Fantastic looking dish and your pics are always so good – are you a professional photographer on the side. We will have to give this dish a try.
Tricia Buice
Thank you Larry! Hope you enjoy this skillet chicken too.
Chris Scheuer
My kind of dinner for sure! Quick, easy and it looks so… DELICIOUS!
Tricia Buice
Thanks Chris!
Mimi
I love everything about this! Lemon, garlic, butter, cayenne… yum.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Mimi! We love it too 😉
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
Such an inviting skillet and chicken with lemons is one of my favourite flavour combinations. Perfect with the potatoes, too! Will be adding this one to the menu soon 🙂
Tricia Buice
Thank you Jennifer! This is easy and delicious. Just what we need right now 🙂