Description
A bright and flavorful Lemon Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and topped with a rich, zesty lemon butter sauce. This quick and easy skillet dish combines the tang of fresh lemon juice and zest with savory garlic and herbs, perfect for a delightful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly on both sides with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until they develop a golden crust and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Liquids and Zest: Pour in the chicken broth and freshly squeezed lemon juice, then stir in the lemon zest. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate into the sauce for deeper flavor.
- Simmer Sauce: Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly and concentrate the flavors. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper if necessary.
- Return Chicken to Skillet: Place the chicken breasts back into the skillet and spoon the lemon butter sauce over them. Let everything simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors and heat through.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the dish with fresh thyme if using and the chopped parsley for a fresh herbal touch before serving.
Notes
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor; bottled lemon juice can alter the taste.
- Optional fresh thyme adds a lovely aromatic note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- This dish pairs well with steamed vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes.
