When I’ve run out of creative ideas for dinner (yes, it happens!), or I’m just really busy during the day and need something quick, Savory Weeknight Chicken is my Superhero. It cooks up in 10 minutes or less depending on the type of chicken you use, has a simple spice rub made up of pantry staples and is enjoyed by our whole family.
As I said, it’s my Superhero!
Savory Weeknight Chicken starts with a three-ingredient spice rub of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika and is pan-seared for 3 – 5 minutes on each side until cooked to a perfect, golden brown. Served up with your favorite vegetable side dish, sliced on top of a salad, or maybe even with some quick-cooking rice, your family will have a yummy meal in no time and you’ll have a stress-free evening.
The Best Chicken for Making 10-Minute Savory Weeknight Chicken
The best part about this recipe is that it’s easy and stress-free. To keep it that way, don’t worry too much about the chicken you use; whatever you have in the freezer or refrigerator will be great.
Here are some tips and cooking times by the type of chicken.
Chicken Breast Cutlets: This is my preferred cut of chicken for this dish simply because it’s quick-cooking (cutlets are a thinner cut of chicken) and I can fit all four cutlets in the same pan while pan-searing them. One cutlet also makes one serving size, so I don’t need to go through the process of slicing the chicken. These take 3 minutes per side to prepare and then dinner is on the table!
Chicken Breasts: Who doesn’t love a good chicken breast? Everyone loves chicken breasts. However, for Savory Weeknight Chicken, I’ve found that they take a little too long to cook and they add a step of needing to slice the chicken to put it on the plate. If you have chicken breasts in your freezer or refrigerator, still use them! Simply slice them in half to form chicken breast cutlets and away you go!
Chicken Thighs: I recommend only using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for Savory Weeknight Chicken. These are also quick cooking but will take up to 5 minutes per side as they are thicker in nature. If chicken thighs are your family’s preferred type of chicken, go for it!
How to Prepare 10-Minute Savory Weeknight Chicken
To prepare Savory Weeknight Chicken, start by laying your chicken on a flat surface and pat it dry on both sides with a paper towel. Next, combine the spices in a small bowl and mix them together with your fingers. Season each piece of chicken on each side with the spice rub (liberally – use it all!), plus salt and pepper to your liking.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Let the pan heat up for a minute or two, so the chicken will be added to a hot surface, creating an immediate sear.
Add each piece of chicken to the pan and do not move it once it’s in the pan. This will ensure it gets a beautiful golden-brown crust on the outside and will bring the spices to life adding so much flavor!
After 3 – 5 minutes, flip the chicken and repeat the process on the other side.
Once cooked, place the chicken on a plate to rest for 5 minutes covered with aluminum foil before serving.
Add one piece of chicken to each plate with your favorite side dish and that’s all there is to it!
Savory Weeknight Chicken is a go-to for our family and I think it will be for yours, too. Simple, easy, and delicious. What more could we want in a weeknight main course?
10-Minute Savory Weeknight Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Chicken Recommended: Chicken cutlets or boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
1 piece of chicken per person.
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt More or less to your liking.
- 1/2 tsp Pepper More or less to your liking.
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Lay the chicken on a flat surface, patting it dry on both sides with a paper towel.
- Combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl. Mix it with your fingertips to combine.
- Season the chicken on each side with the spice mixture including salt and pepper.
- Add the olive oil to a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium or medium-high heat for a 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook for 3 - 5 minutes per side.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken from the pan and place on a covered plate for 5 minutes to let it rest before serving.
