Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet (Copycat)

This easy one-pan dinner is inspired by popular copycat versions of the Texas Roadhouse Butter Chicken Skillet. It’s an American-style buttery garlic chicken—not Indian butter chicken—and features juicy pan-seared chicken in a rich garlic butter sauce.

Ingredients

For the Chicken

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (or 4 small breasts)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the Garlic Butter Sauce

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. Season the Chicken

In a bowl, toss the chicken with:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Salt
• Black pepper

2. Sear

• Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the chicken in a single layer.
• Cook for 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (165°F/74°C).
• Transfer the chicken to a plate.

3. Make the Sauce

• Reduce heat to medium.
• Melt the remaining butter.
• Add the garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, until fragrant.
• Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up the browned bits from the skillet.
• Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning.
• Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
• Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until smooth.

4. Finish

• Return the chicken to the skillet.
• Spoon the buttery sauce over the chicken.
• Simmer for 2–3 minutes until everything is hot and well coated.
• Stir in parsley and lemon juice, if using.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

• Creamy mashed potatoes
• Buttered rice
• Texas Roadhouse-style rolls
• Steamed broccoli
• Green beans
• Roasted asparagus

Prep & Cook Time

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Servings: 4

Tips

• Chicken thighs work well if you prefer extra-juicy meat.
• For a little heat, add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
• If you like a thicker sauce, let it simmer an extra 2–3 minutes before returning the chicken.
• Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley just before serving.

This copycat recipe captures the rich, buttery garlic flavor associated with popular Texas Roadhouse-inspired skillet chicken recipes while keeping the preparation simple enough for a weeknight meal