Juicy Skillet to Oven Chicken Breasts (Ready in Under 30 Minutes)
This Skillet to Oven Chicken is one of my favorite meal prep staples. Chicken breasts are seasoned with simple pantry spices, seared until golden brown, then finished in the oven with butter and garlic for juicy, flavorful chicken that's perfect for salads, bowls, wraps, soups, and easy weeknight meals throughout the week.
Servings 2 breasts
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves (smashed, more minced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken breasts completely dry with paper towels to help them develop a beautiful golden crust when searing. If the chicken breasts are especially thick, gently pound them to an even thickness to promote more even cooking and prevent the edges from drying out before the center is cooked through.
- Add the chicken to a plate or cutting board and season both sides with garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil.
- Carefully place the chicken breasts into the hot skillet and sear for 3–4 minutes per side until deeply golden brown. Allow the chicken to cook undisturbed during this time to help create a flavorful crust and prevent sticking.
- Reduce heat slightly and add butter and smashed or minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Spoon some of the melted butter over the chicken.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8–12 minutes, or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F internally.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning. Removing excess moisture helps create a deeper golden-brown crust during the sear.
- Pound thicker portions to an even thickness. This helps the chicken cook more evenly so the thinner ends don't dry out before the center is done.
- Let the skillet get properly hot before adding the chicken. A hot pan creates an instant sear, locking in moisture and building flavor.
- Don't move the chicken while it sears. Allowing it to cook undisturbed helps develop a beautiful crust and prevents sticking.
- Let the chicken rest before slicing. Resting for 5–10 minutes allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat instead of running out onto the cutting board.
- Slice against the grain. This creates more tender bites and helps the chicken stay juicy.
- Choose similarly sized chicken breasts. Uniform sizes ensure everything cooks at the same rate and prevents some pieces from overcooking.
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