Description
Lemon Butter Chicken is a quick, flavorful, and comforting dish featuring pan-seared chicken breasts coated in a rich, tangy lemon butter sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect balance of creamy, zesty, and savory flavors that makes weeknight dinners effortless and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 (5 oz) chicken breasts, pounded to 1/3-inch thickness
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided into 1 Tbsp pieces
- 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- 1 1/2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Place flour in a shallow dish and dredge each chicken breast to coat evenly, shaking off excess.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken breasts in a single layer and sear each side for 4–5 minutes until golden and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
- Transfer chicken to a plate and reduce heat to medium.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 20 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in lemon juice and simmer until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
- Add remaining butter and lemon zest, stirring until melted and smooth.
- Return chicken to skillet, spoon sauce over top, and garnish with parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh lemons for the best bright flavor—bottled juice can dull the taste.
- Flatten chicken evenly to ensure uniform cooking and tender texture.
- For a creamier sauce, stir in 1 Tbsp heavy cream before returning the chicken to the pan.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet.
- Pairs beautifully with orzo, roasted vegetables, or cauliflower rice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Seared
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 341
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 176mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 121mg
Keywords: Lemon Butter Chicken, lemon chicken, skillet chicken, chicken dinner, butter sauce, quick chicken recipe, weeknight meal