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    Home » Recipes

    Easy Marinated Pan-Seared Chicken Breast

    Published: Dec 9, 2021 · Modified: May 29, 2022 ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This marinated pan-seared chicken breast recipe is my go-to for delicious chicken breasts. It's only 6 ingredients, comes together quickly, and can be made in a pan or on the grill, so it's perfect for all 4 seasons. It always comes out moist with a great sear and so much flavor. I use this chicken for pretty much everything--I love it served on salads, pasta, or on its own. I also use it for meal-prep--it's great heated up!

    This is a picture of marinated pan-seared chicken breast in a pan.

    Here's what you'll need for this marinated pan-seared chicken breast.

    • Chicken breast. Chicken thighs or chicken tenders will also work if that's what you prefer.
    • Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce. You can substitute your own favorite hot sauce or buffalo sauce, but I'm pretty much obsessed with Frank's.
    • Maple syrup. 100% pure maple syrup is best. Honey works too if you don't have any maple syrup on hand.
    • Soy sauce, or coconut aminos for gluten free and Paleo
    • Garlic
    • Oil. Use something with a high smoke-point, like avocado oil. Avoid olive oil because it's more likely to burn.
    This is a picture of marinated pan-seared chicken breast in a pan.

    Here's how we make it.

    Combine chicken breasts, hot sauce, maple syrup, soy sauce or coconut aminos, and garlic in a gallon baggie and shake to combine everything. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least an hour and up to 24 hours.

    This is a picture of marinated chicken breast in a baggie.

    Once the chicken is done marinating, add oil to a large non-stick or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook, untouched, for about 6 minutes. Check the bottom of the chicken breasts to make sure they're not burning--if they're not, leave them in the pan for another 2 minutes, then flip them over. Add more oil, then cook the other side of the chicken breasts for another 6-9 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breasts reads 165 degrees. Total cook time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken breasts.

    This is a picture of raw chicken in a pan.
    This is a picture of cooked chicken in a pan.

    Remove the chicken breasts from the pan and let them rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting.

    This is a picture of cut marinated pan-seared chicken breast in a pan.

    Looking for recipes to pair this chicken with? Try these:

    • Mushroom and Ricotta Cheese Tortellini
    • Instant Pot Lemon Pepper Rice
    • Fall Harvest Salad with Sweet Potato, Apple, and Halloumi Cheese
    • One-Pot Healthier Copycat Kraft Mac and Cheese
    This is a picture of mushroom and ricotta cheese tortellini with a spoon next to it.
    Mushroom and Ricotta Cheese Tortellini
    This is a picture of instant pot lemon pepper rice with rotisserie chicken.
    Lemon Pepper Rice
    Fall Harvest Salad
    Copycat Kraft Mac and Cheese
    The Easiest Marinated Pan-Seared Chicken Breast

    The Easiest Marinated Pan-Seared Chicken Breast

    Recipe by Mollie

    This marinated pan-seared chicken breast recipe is my go-to for delicious chicken breasts. It's only 6 ingredients, comes together quickly, and can be made in a pan or on the grill, so it's perfect for all 4 seasons. It always comes out moist with a great sear and so much flavor.

    Course: DinnerCuisine: ChickenDifficulty: Easy
    4 from 9 votes
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    Servings

    6

    servings
    Prep time

    5

    minutes
    Cooking time

    20

    minutes
    Calories

    350

    kcal
    Total time

    25

    minutes
    Cook Mode

    Prevent your screen from going dark!

    Ingredients

    • 3 pounds 3 chicken breasts, about 4-5 breasts

    • ½ cup ½ Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce

    • ½ cup ½ maple syrup

    • 1 cup 1 soy sauce or coconut aminos (use coconut aminos for gluten free, Paleo)

    • 4 cloves 4 garlic, minced

    • 3 tablespoons 3 high smoke point oil, like avocado oil

    Directions

    • Combine chicken breasts, hot sauce, maple syrup, soy sauce or coconut aminos, and garlic in a gallon baggie and shake to combine everything. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least an hour and up to 24 hours.
    • Once the chicken is done marinating, add 2 tablespoons of oil to a large non-stick or cast-iron pan over medium heat.
    • Once the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook, untouched, for about 6 minutes. Check the bottom of the breasts to make sure they're not burning--if they're not, leave them in the pan for another 2 minutes, then flip them over.
    • Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and cook the other side of the chicken for another 6-9 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breasts reads 165 degrees. Total cook time will vary based on the thickness of your chicken.
    • Remove the chicken from the pan and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting.

    Notes

    • Use something with a high smoke-point, like avocado oil. Avoid olive oil because it's more likely to burn.
    • 100% pure maple syrup is best for this recipe. Honey works too if you don't have any maple syrup on hand.

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    hi, we're Michael and Mollie

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