Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli

If your weeknights feel like a blur of emails, errands, and “what’s for dinner?” panic, Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli is about to become your new best friend. It’s buttery, garlicky, and somehow tastes like you tried way harder than you actually did. (My favorite kind of cooking.)

This dish hits that sweet spot: quick enough for a busy Tuesday, but delicious enough to serve when you want your family to think you’ve got everything under control. And hey—if you don’t? The garlic butter sauce will distract everyone. Magical.

Why You’ll Love This Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli

• Fast and fuss-free: One skillet, minimal cleanup, maximum “look what I made!” energy.
• Family-friendly: Chicken + broccoli + butter = a combo picky eaters sometimes tolerate without negotiations.
• Big flavor, simple ingredients: That garlic butter sauce is doing the heavy lifting (bless it).
• Flexible: Serve it over rice, cauliflower rice, noodles, or straight from the pan while “taste testing.” (No judgment.)

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what makes this Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli shine—and a few little notes so it turns out just right:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Fresh, lean, easy to chop. Pick chicken that looks firm and moist for the best texture.
• Fresh broccoli florets – Bright green, crunchy, and loaded with goodness. Look for tight buds and vibrant color.
• Unsalted butter – This creates that rich, silky sauce. Use good butter if you can—this is where the flavor lives.
• Olive oil – Helps the chicken brown nicely and keeps it from sticking. Choose one that smells fresh and a little grassy.
• Garlic cloves – The backbone of the whole dish. Go for heavy, firm cloves (avoid shriveled ones if possible).
• Soy sauce – Adds that savory, umami “something something” that makes people go back for seconds. Low-sodium is great for control.
• Lemon juice – Brightens everything and keeps the butter from feeling too heavy. A juicy lemon is worth it.
• Red pepper flakes (optional) – For a little heat. Totally skippable if your household thinks black pepper is “spicy.”
• Salt and pepper – Simple, but important. Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper bring the best flavor.
• Sesame seeds (optional) – Adds a nutty crunch that makes it feel a bit fancy.
• Chopped parsley (optional) – A fresh pop of green that says “yes, I garnish things.”

How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli (Step-by-Step)

1) Prepare and sauté the chicken

Cut the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces—think “easy to stab with a fork” size.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the chicken and spread it out in a single layer. Try not to crowd the pan—crowding leads to steaming, and steaming leads to sadness.

Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5–6 minutes, turning the pieces so each side browns. When the chicken is golden and cooked through, remove it to a plate and keep it warm.

Aneta tip: If your chicken sticks a little at first, don’t panic. Let it cook another minute—it usually releases once it’s browned.

2) Steam the broccoli

In the same skillet (no need to wash it—those browned bits are flavor gold), pour in ¼ cup water. Add the broccoli florets and cover with a lid to trap the steam.

Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring once halfway through. You want broccoli that’s bright green and just fork-tender, not soft and sleepy.

Drain any excess water so your sauce doesn’t get diluted. We want glossy, not watery.

3) Make the garlic butter sauce

Turn the heat down to medium-low. Add the unsalted butter and let it melt.

Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for about 30 seconds—just until it smells fragrant. Do not let it brown. Burnt garlic is like a bad mood you can taste.

4) Build the flavor base

Pour in the soy sauce and lemon juice. Add red pepper flakes if you’re using them.

Stir everything together and scrape up those browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. That’s where the deep flavor hides.

5) Combine chicken and broccoli

Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it in the sauce. Let it cook for 1–2 minutes, just until the chicken is heated and glossy.

Add the steamed broccoli back in and stir until everything is evenly coated. At this point, it starts smelling like you should charge admission to your kitchen.

6) Garnish and serve

Turn off the heat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and parsley if you want.

Serve warm as-is, or spoon it over:

• steamed rice
• buttery noodles
• cauliflower rice
• quinoa
• or whatever carb is closest and won’t judge you

Cooking Tips That Make It Even Better

• Cut chicken evenly: Similar-sized pieces cook at the same pace. No one wants the “one dry chunk” surprise.
• Don’t overcook broccoli: Bright green = perfect. Olive-drab = you got distracted by a group text (it happens).
• Garlic timing matters: 30 seconds is plenty. If the garlic browns, the sauce can taste bitter.
• Want extra sauce? Add a little more butter and a tiny splash of soy sauce + lemon juice. That’s not “extra,” that’s “prepared.”
• Sauce look a little thin? Let it simmer 30–60 seconds longer on low. It thickens slightly as it reduces.

A Little Story From My Kitchen

This Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli became one of my go-to dinners when I wanted something “healthy-ish” but still comforting. One night, I made it after a long day and served it over rice—my family ate quietly for a full two minutes.

Two whole minutes.

If you have kids, you know that kind of silence usually means either something is delicious… or something is suspicious. Thankfully, it was delicious. Now it’s one of those recipes I make when I need a win—and honestly, we all need those.

FAQs About Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli

Bring the Magic to Your Weeknight Table

If you’re craving something cozy, quick, and packed with flavor, Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli is the kind of recipe that makes dinner feel doable again. It’s simple, satisfying, and the garlic butter sauce is basically a hug in skillet form.

Make it once, and I highly suspect it’ll land on your “save me on busy nights” list—right next to takeout menus and that one frozen pizza you swear you’re not relying on (but totally are).

More Easy Dinners You’ll Probably Love Next

• If you’re on a “one-pan dinner” streak right now (same!), try Salsa Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Skillet for another fast, low-mess weeknight win—it’s bold, cozy, and perfect when you want dinner done yesterday.
• Craving that same cozy comfort but with a creamy pasta vibe? You’ll love Rotisserie Chicken Broccoli Pasta for a creamy, family-friendly follow-up—especially when you need something everyone will actually eat.
• If the garlicky sauce is what you’re really here for (no shame), save Sticky Garlic Chicken Noodles for a saucy, slurp-worthy dinner idea—it’s the kind of meal that disappears fast.
• Want to keep the broccoli love going in a more “comfort food” direction? Add Baked Potato Chicken and Broccoli Casserole for a warm, cozy casserole night to your list—great for meal prep and leftovers that actually feel exciting.

And hey—if you made Garlic Butter Chicken Broccoli, I’d love to hear how it went! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tap the stars and leave a quick review (even one sentence helps) so other readers know if this recipe earned a spot in your weeknight rotation.

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