Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet: 22 Min Magic

Oh, you know how much I love bringing those incredible restaurant flavors right into my own kitchen! Sometimes you just crave that perfect bite you had out, but you don’t have the time or the energy for a huge production. Well, get ready, because today we are tackling the ultra-satisfying **Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet**! Trust me, this version captures all that creamy, buttery goodness and it’s lightning fast for tonight’s dinner.

I remember visiting Texas Roadhouse for the first time on a big winter family trip. The place felt so warm inside, and the air was humming with happy chatter and amazing food smells! I still dream about that first creamy bite of their famous Butter Chicken Skillet. It was just pure comfort. Inspired by that memory, I spent ages tweaking my version at home, making sure every lick of flavor was spot on while keeping it manageable. If you’re looking for a hearty meal that feels totally special, this recipe is for you. Find more favorites like this over at my recipe index!

Why This Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet Recipe Works for You

You absolute need this recipe in your weekly rotation, seriously! If you are looking for a super satisfying meal, this is where you start. It’s not just restaurant quality; it’s faster than waiting for carry-out!

  • It comes together in about 22 total minutes—hello, Quick Dinner Ideas!
  • The prep is ridiculously simple. You’re mostly just seasoning and searing.
  • We get that signature rich, buttery flavor you expect from a great steakhouse night.
  • Perfectly suited for those nights when you need Dinner Ideas For Tonight that everyone will actually devour.

Essential Ingredients for the Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

Getting that true restaurant flavor at home means we can’t skimp on quality, especially for a dish this simple. When you’re cooking something that relies heavily on a few core flavors, precision matters! We break our ingredients down into two simple teams: what goes on the chicken and what becomes the amazing sauce.

Remember, if you’re trying to keep costs down while maximizing taste, check out my guide on making cheap keto meals!

Chicken Preparation Ingredients

We start with four beautiful, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Make sure they are nice and uniform in thickness so they cook evenly—this is crucial for our quick cook time! You’ll need two tablespoons of olive oil to get that beautiful golden sear going in the skillet.

For seasoning, keep it simple but potent: salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and I always throw in just a half teaspoon of paprika for color, even if it’s optional flavor!

Creating the Rich Butter Sauce for Your Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

This sauce is where the magic happens! You need a quarter cup of unsalted butter, and listen closely: it must be softened first. No hacking at cold chunks! We blend that softened butter with just two teaspoons of honey. That touch of sweetness is non-negotiable for that signature taste.

The sauce mixture will be simple, but it gets completely transformed once it hits the pan with those beautifully cooked chicken breasts.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

Okay, let’s get cooking! We are aiming for maximum flavor payoff in minimum time here. If you want to see how this stacks up against one-pot wonders like my Turkey Taco Skillet, you’ll be amazed at how quick this is while still delivering that restaurant shine. No complicated techniques needed, I promise.

Seasoning and Searing the Chicken Breast

First things first: grab those four chicken breasts and pat them absolutely dry with a paper towel. Dry chicken equals a gorgeous crust, so don’t skip that part! Season them generously on both sides with your salt, pepper, garlic powder, and that optional dash of paprika. You want them well-coated!

Next, get your large cast iron or heavy skillet over medium heat and add your two tablespoons of olive oil. Once that oil shimmers just a tiny bit, carefully lay the chicken in there. Let that first side do its thing for about five to six minutes. We are looking for a deep, gorgeous golden brown crust. Then, flip them and cook the other side for another five to six minutes until they hit that safe internal temperature of 165°F. You can pop over to this link if you need a refresher on checking temps!

Close-up of glazed chicken breasts cooking in a skillet, garnished with fresh parsley for Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet.

Finishing the Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet Sauce

While the chicken finishes cooking, quickly whip up your sauce in a tiny bowl—just that softened butter and two teaspoons of honey swirled together. See? So easy!

Once the chicken is cooked through, you need to bring the heat right down to low. Seriously, turn it down! Pour that wonderful butter-honey mix right over the chicken pieces in the pan. Let it bubble for just a minute or two, using a spoon to baste and spoon that incredible sauce all over the top. This step is rapid, so watch that butter doesn’t scorch. Once everything is glossy and coated, pull the skillet right off the heat.

Close-up of glazed chicken pieces cooking in a skillet, garnished with fresh parsley, resembling Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet.

Tips for Achieving Restaurant-Quality Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

We want the best when we bring restaurant favorites home, right? It’s all about respect for the ingredients and managing that heat. For me, the secret weapon is always the quality of the butter—use real, good unsalted butter! It melts cleaner and gives a richer mouthfeel than substitutes, which is vital for this sauce.

When you add that butter-honey mixture in at the end, you have to be quick. If the heat is too high, the honey will burn before the butter emulsifies, and we end up with sticky, harsh chicken instead of that silky coating. That’s why turning the heat to low is non-negotiable. You’re just warming the butter through and letting it coat the meat.

Close-up of glazed chicken pieces simmering in a dark sauce, garnished with fresh parsley, ready for Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet.

Also, don’t overcrowd your pan when searing the chicken breasts initially. A crowded pan steams the meat instead of browning it, and we lose that beautiful outer layer that keeps the juices locked in. If you need to do it in batches, do it! It’s worth the extra two minutes for perfectly tender chicken breast. You can check out my Creamy Tuscan Chicken Skillet for similar skillet searing magic!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for This Quick Dinner Idea

I know sometimes we run out of things or have dietary needs, so let’s chat swaps for this great, simple recipe. While chicken breasts are honestly the best cut here since they cook evenly for our Fast And Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes For Family, if you only have thighs, just know they will need an extra 3-4 minutes to cook through.

Now, about that honey! Because this recipe is naturally so focused on butter and savory herbs, that touch of honey really balances things out. If you need to keep things strictly low-carb, you can swap the two teaspoons of honey for your favorite keto-friendly syrup or liquid sweetener. Just ensure you’re using less, as some sugar substitutes are much sweeter than real honey!

The goal is to keep the sauce from burning, so whatever you use for sweetness, make sure it mixes well with that softened butter before it ever hits the hot pan!

Serving Suggestions for Your Fast And Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes For Family

Alright, since the real Texas Roadhouse version is often just served with bread for soaking up that sauce—and we might be skipping the bread—we need some fantastic green companions for this! This makes it truly ready to be an amazing Easy Dinner To Take To Someone because it looks complete!

I always pair this Butter Chicken Skillet with something simple that can handle that rich coating. Steamed or lightly roasted broccoli is my absolute favorite; the little florets catch the buttery glaze perfectly. A simple side salad dressed with a tart vinaigrette also cuts through the richness nicely.

If you’re serving guests, throwing some garlicky green beans in there is a winner too. It keeps the focus right on that phenomenal chicken!

Close-up of glazed chicken pieces simmering in sauce, garnished with parsley, inspired by Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet.

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

Please, please don’t let those delicious leftovers go to waste! If you manage to have any of this amazing skillet left—which is tough, I know—store it right away. Pop it into an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. It stays perfectly tasty for about four days.

When you are ready to enjoy it again, skip the microwave if you can! Reheat it gently in your skillet with just a tiny splash of water or broth. That keeps the sauce from breaking. If you must microwave it, just use short 30-second intervals until it warms through. Check out my tips on storing other skillet meals, like the Chicken Caprese Skillet, in the archives!

Frequently Asked Questions About Making This Dish

Is this Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet truly considered a Quick Dinner Idea?

Absolutely! I designed this recipe specifically for those busy weeknights when you need amazing flavor without the fuss. With only about 10 minutes of prep and 12 minutes of cooking time, you’re looking at a total time of just 22 minutes. It’s one of my go-to recipes when I need a fast and easy chicken dinner for the family without ordering in!

Can I prepare the chicken seasoning mixture ahead of time for this Easy Dinner?

You certainly can! If you want to make prep even faster, you can pat your chicken breasts dry (step one!) and season them completely the night before. Just keep them sealed tightly in the fridge. When dinner time rolls around, all you have to do is heat up your oil and start searing. This makes it a fantastic option if you are looking for an Easy Dinner To Take To Someone too, because you can quickly finish it up at their house if you want!

What if I don’t have any honey on hand for the butter sauce?

That’s a great question! The honey adds that signature touch of sweetness that balances the savory butter and garlic. If you are out, or if you are sticking to a super strict low-carb diet, you can use a granulated keto sweetener substitute, but you’ll need to dissolve it in about a teaspoon of hot water first to make it liquidy so it mixes smoothly with the softened butter. Maple syrup works in a pinch too, though it will change the flavor profile slightly!

What is the best way to ensure the chicken stays tender and doesn’t dry out?

The secret here is twofold: first, don’t over-season before searing, and second, managing the final step! When you add the butter mixture at the very end, you must reduce the heat to practically nothing. You are only gently warming the sauce to coat the chicken and let it absorb that richness for about two minutes. As soon as that internal temperature hits 165°F, pull it out. It keeps those juices locked right where they belong!

Share Your Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet Creations

I sincerely hope you loved making this incredibly simple and flavorful **Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet**! When I share a recipe this close to my heart, the best part is hearing from you all. Did you try it tonight? Was the sauce rich enough? Don’t be shy!

Please hop down to the comments section below and give this recipe a star rating. I truly want to know how it turned out for your family. If you snapped a photo of that gorgeous, glistening chicken breast—maybe sitting next to some roasted asparagus—I’d be thrilled if you shared it on social media! Tag me so I can see your amazing work!

If you enjoyed this restaurant remake, you absolutely must browse for more fast weeknight winners. We have tons of fantastic Dinner Chicken Breast recipes just waiting for you to try out next. Keep that skillet sizzling!

Close-up of seasoned chicken pieces simmering in a rich sauce in a skillet, part of the Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet recipe.

Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet

Recreate the popular Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet at home with this easy recipe. This dish features tender chicken breasts coated in a rich butter and honey sauce, perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 4 pieces
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Cooking Oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Butter Sauce
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika optional for added flavor
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Small bowl

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken breasts dry and season both sides with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and optional paprika.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes on one side until golden brown.
  3. Flip chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes until fully cooked (165°F internal temperature).
  4. In a small bowl, mix softened butter and honey.
  5. Reduce heat to low, pour butter-honey mixture over chicken, and spoon sauce over the chicken for 1-2 minutes.
  6. Remove from heat, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcalFat: 22g

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of water or microwave in short intervals until warmed through.

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