Easy Lemon Butter Chicken
A quick and easy lemon butter chicken recipe perfect for busy weeknights, featuring tender chicken breasts in a silky, tangy lemon butter sauce with garlic and fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup (30g) all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons (57g) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- ½ cup (120ml) chicken broth, low sodium preferred
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Place the all-purpose flour on a plate and dredge each chicken breast, shaking off the excess.
- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the butter foams but does not brown, about 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side without moving them. Flip and cook another 5 minutes until golden and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C). Remove chicken and set aside, tented with foil to keep warm.
- Lower heat to medium. Add remaining butter and minced garlic to the pan. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in fresh lemon juice and chicken broth, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, nestle it into the sauce, and spoon some sauce over the top. Let warm through for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes over the chicken. Stir once more and serve.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before dredging to ensure a crispy crust. Use medium-high heat to sear chicken without burning butter. Stir garlic constantly to avoid bitterness. Simmer sauce gently to keep it silky and prevent separation. Adjust sauce thickness by simmering longer or adding broth/water. Cook chicken in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: lemon butter chicken, easy chicken recipe, quick dinner, weeknight meal, buttery lemon sauce, garlic chicken, family dinner