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Pan-Seared Chicken with Tomato Butter Sauce: Quick One-Pan Dinner
Skillet chicken with a quick tomato butter sauce: sear, simmer, and serve in under 30 minutes.
Why this recipe works
This pan-seared chicken with tomato butter sauce is a quick, weeknight-friendly dish. It uses a fast sear, then finishes with a glossy tomato-butter sauce. Suitable for cooks who want a tender chicken with bright, silky sauce.
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- tomato butter sauce
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- skillet chicken recipe
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- herbed chicken bake
- tomato butter sauce recipe
Key takeaways
Simple skillet method in one pan
Flavorful tomato-butter sauce in minutes
Serves 2–4 with minimal prep
Recipe guide
This pan-seared chicken with tomato butter sauce is a quick, weeknight-friendly dish. It uses a fast sear, then finishes with a glossy tomato-butter sauce. Suitable for cooks who want a tender chicken with bright, silky sauce.
A flavorful, fast chicken dinner you can finish in one pan.
- Simple skillet method in one pan
- Flavorful tomato-butter sauce in minutes
- Serves 2–4 with minimal prep
Sear the chicken
Pat dry, season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Sear in a hot skillet with olive oil until golden, 4–6 minutes per side.
Make the tomato butter
Move chicken aside, melt butter on the empty side, add the diced tomatoes and cook until softened, 3–4 minutes.
Finish and rest
Return sauce to coat chicken, simmer 3–5 minutes until cooked through and slightly thickened. Rest 2 minutes before serving.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces Chicken (thighs or breasts)
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 medium Tomatoes, diced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and oregano
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering
- Add chicken and sear until golden brown, about 4–6 minutes per side depending on thickness
- Reduce heat to medium and push chicken to one side of the pan
- Add butter to the empty side of the skillet and let it melt
- Add diced tomatoes to the butter and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3–4 minutes
- Spoon the tomato-butter mixture over the chicken and simmer together for 3–5 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce slightly thickened
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then remove from heat and let chicken rest for 2 minutes
- Serve chicken topped with the tomato butter sauce
FAQs
Can I use bone-in chicken?
Yes. Adjust cook time to ensure the meat reaches 165°F.
Can I use canned tomatoes?
Yes, substitute with canned diced tomatoes and adjust simmer time if needed.
How do I store leftovers?
Store cooled chicken and sauce separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.