Butter Sauteed Chicken Breast with Fresh Tomato, Wine and Basil Pan Sauce is a quick and delicious dinner. Perfectly sauteed chicken breast is topped with an easy pan sauce of fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, white wine and basil. This 20 minute dinner recipe is great for busy nights.
Can you tell I'm hanging on to summer for just a little while longer? I'm not quite ready for cozy comfort food and everything pumpkin spice just yet.
Summer produce still takes center stage for many of my recipes. My family and personal chef clients love when I cook with zucchini, sweet corn, bell peppers, green beans, sugar snap peas and fresh herbs.
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what's to love about this recipe?
My Butter Sauteed Chicken Breast with Fresh Tomato, Wine and Basil Pan Sauce is one recipe I've made no less than dozen times over the past month. It's just that good! Tomatoes and basil star in this super quick and easy dinner recipe that doesn't skimp on all the amazing flavor of summer vegetables.
The fresh tomato sauce is absolutely delish. A pat of butter is swirled in just before serving making it extra rich. I also serve this versatile sauce over shrimp, scallops, cod, salmon, pork chops or tenderloin, steak and any vegetable. It's also so tasty topping for crostini.
ingredients
- thin boneless skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt
- pepper
- paprika
- all purpose flour
- salted butter
- extra virgin olive oil
- onion
- tomato
- garlic
- tomato paste
- white wine
- fresh basil
recipe details
This dish comes together quickly. I like to have all the ingredients cut or chopped before I start cooking to make preparing it super easy. And the recipe makes simply the best chicken pan sauce.
- Season the chicken with kosher salt, pepper and paprika. Lightly dredge in flour.
- Sauté the chicken in butter and olive oil. Remove to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté the onions, tomatoes and garlic in butter.
- Add tomato paste and wine and reduce the sauce by half.
- Finish the pan sauce with a pat of butter and fresh basil.
- Spoon the tomato sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with more fresh basil and serve.
It's just that easy!
how to make sautéed chicken breast without drying it out
I've never met anyone who likes dried out and tough boneless chicken breast. But it can be a little tricky to cook it just right. With lots of practice cooking chicken recipes for my personal chef clients, I've got a few tips for you for the most moist and juicy sauteed chicken breast.
- So the chicken cooks evenly, choose boneless chicken breasts that are the same size and thickness. If a piece of chicken is too thick, slice it horizontally into thin cutlets. You want about ½ inch thick cutlets for this sauteed chicken breast recipe.
- Season the chicken to help it brown. A sprinkle of paprika, kosher salt and pepper along with a light dredge in flour help seal in flavor and produce beautifully golden brown chicken
- Sauté the chicken breasts in salted butter and olive oil for about 2 minutes per side. This combo adds the richest flavor and produces golden brown crust.
- Keep a instant read digital thermometer handy. Boneless chicken breast cook quickly. They need just a couple minutes per side. Perfectly cooked chicken breasts should be 165 degrees F.
a few cooking tips and substitutions
To make the recipe gluten free, use rice flour. You you can also skip dredging the chicken, but it won't have the same golden brown crust.
Add a little spice to the dish by adding red pepper flakes along with the garlic.
Chardonnay is my first choice for wine in the sauce. Pinot Grigio can also be used in the sauce.
In a pinch, 1 teaspoon dried basil can be substituted for the fresh basil.
The fresh tomato sauce is also delicious over shrimp, scallops, pork tenderloin or chops, salmon, halibut, steak and any vegetable.
how to store and reheat chicken
Like many sauteed chicken breast dishes, any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container (these glass storage containers are my favorites) for up to 4 days.
Because this dish has a sauce, it reheats beautifully. Heat any leftovers on a loosely covered plate in the microwave on 70% power for 1 minute. Continue heating at 30 second intervals until heated through.
more chicken breast recipes
- Easy One Pan Lemon Chicken
- Chicken with Pomodoro Sauce
- French Onion Chicken Bake
- Everything But the Bagel Chicken Bites
just one more thing
If you make this easy sauteed chicken breast recipe, I'd love hearing from you. Be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating ~ I do my best to reply to all your comments. And snap a photo to post to Instagram. I'll add the photos to my Insta stories as I love seeing all your creations.
Also check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for lots of fabulous foodie stories, videos, cooking tips, and recipes.
Recipe
Butter Sauteed Chicken Breast with Fresh Tomato, Wine and Basil Pan Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 thin boneless skinless chicken breasts about 2 pounds total
- kosher salt
- pepper
- paprika
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons salted butter divided
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil divided
- ½ cup diced onion
- 2 cups chopped tomato
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ⅓ cup white wine ~ I suggest Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil plus more for serving
Instructions
- Place the chicken breast on a work surface. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt, pepper, and paprika. Place the flour on a plate. Lightly dredge both sides of the seasoned chicken in the flour. Set aside.
- In a large sauté pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon salted butter and 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil. When the butter has melted, sauté the chicken breast. You will have to do this in 2 or 3 batches adding more of the oil if needed. Sauté for about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Use an instant read digital thermometer to check if the chicken is done. The internal temperature should be 165 degrees F. Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- In the same pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of butter. When it has melted, add the onion. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes or until translucent.
- Add the tomatoes to the pan and sauté another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the garlic and tomato paste, stir and sauté for 30 seconds. Pour in the wine and bring the sauce to a low boil. Reduce the sauce to about one half. This should take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and stir to melt. Add the basil and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Pour any of the juices on the plate with the chicken into the sauce and stir to combine. Top the chicken with the sauce and more chopped basil.
Video
Notes
- To make the recipe gluten free, use rice flour. You you can skip dredging the chicken, but it won't have the same golden brown crust.
- Add a little spice to the recipe by adding red pepper flakes along with the garlic.
- Chardonnay is my first choice for wine in the sauce. Pinot Grigio can also be used in the sauce.
- In a pinch, 1 teaspoon dried basil can be substituted for the fresh basil.
- The fresh tomato sauce is also delicious over shrimp, scallops, pork tenderloin or chops, salmon, halibut, steak and any vegetable.
Margaret Connell says
Truly delicious! All the reviews are spot-on. I served this over linguine and we topped individual servings with fresh grated Parmesan.
Amy Casey says
I love to here that Margaret! Summer tomatoes are the BEST in this dish. Love the idea of serving the chicken over pasta. Thanks for sharing.
Connie says
This was made with our home grown tomato’s. It was delicious. This will be made many more times!
Thanks
Amy Casey says
Thanks so much Connie! How delicious that you have home grown tomatoes. I "borrow" them from my neighbor 🙂
Connie says
Made the with our home grown tomato’s. It was very delicious!!
It is a keeper!
Amy Casey says
Thanks so much!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
Amanda Mason says
Made this for dinner....so good and easy to make! Great Recipe! I'll be making this again soon!
Amy Casey says
Thanks Amanda!
Moop Brown says
This chicken looks super tasty and like such a quick and easy meal as well.
Amy Casey says
It is! I hope you enjoy the recipe Moop.
Kristina says
This is such an easy meal with simple ingredients and so much flavor. I use Pinot Grigio and fresh basil (like recommended, always use fresh basil if you can). In fact I use a little more fresh basil with tomatoes from the garden and the flavor is incredible.
Amy Casey says
Fresh basil is just the best. I miss it during the winter months when it just doesn't taste the same.
Leslie says
This is the most perfect chicken breast recipe! So tender and that sauce is to die for!
Amy Casey says
I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe Leslie.
Amanda says
This was such a great chicken! I had a bunch of fresh basil on hand, and I love how fresh it made the sauce taste. Delicious recipe.
Amy Casey says
Thanks Amanda! I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe.
LaKita says
Gave this chicken recipe a try this week and everyone in my family absolutely loved it, so simple to make and delicious!
Amy Casey says
Awesome! Aren't easy family dinners just the best LaKita?!
veenaazmanov says
This is such a delicious platter . Definitely a Happy Meal option too. Dinner would look interesting and tempting for sure.
Amy Casey says
Thanks Veenaazmanov. This is a favorite of my personal chef clients.
Andrea Howe says
Our Family absolutely loved this dish! Prepared it this past weekend and it was a hit. Looking forward to the next time we get to enjoy this easy and flavorful meal together!
Amy Casey says
I am so glad your family enjoyed my recipe Andrea.
Patricia says
Just wonderful! I'd like to have summer stick around a bit longer, too. The tomato-based sauced here is just lovely!
Amy Casey says
I am not ready for the chilly weather just yet. So glad you enjoyed my recipe.
Sharon says
It doesn't get better than this easy sauteed chicken breast recipe. I love the simple sauce with fresh tomatoes for topping.
Amy Casey says
Aren't quick, easy and delicious dinner just the best?!