Description
A bright and flavorful Lemon Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked to perfection and smothered in a rich, zesty lemon butter sauce. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or an elegant meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 piece lemon zest
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Thoroughly season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts carefully and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked with an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the sauce base: Pour in the chicken broth and freshly squeezed lemon juice, scraping the browned bits from the skillet bottom for flavor. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
- Add lemon zest and butter: Stir in the lemon zest, then whisk in the unsalted butter until the sauce becomes smooth and slightly thickened. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the lemon butter sauce over them. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 2-3 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Serve: Plate the chicken breasts and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot and enjoy this zesty, buttery delight.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright, tangy flavor.
- For a thicker sauce, simmer it a bit longer before adding chicken back in.
- Can be served with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
- Butter can be substituted with a dairy-free alternative for lactose intolerance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: lemon chicken, lemon butter sauce, easy chicken recipe, sautéed chicken, dinner recipe, quick chicken dish, lemon garlic chicken
