Description
This Easy Lemon Chicken Skillet is a quick and flavorful dinner option featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to perfection in a zesty lemon garlic sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a simple stovetop recipe that delivers bright flavors and juicy chicken, ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
To Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure they cook quickly and evenly. Season both sides thoroughly with salt, pepper, and dried oregano for balanced flavor.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Confirm doneness by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Make the lemon sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to medium and add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Stir well to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits stuck to the bottom. Let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Finish the sauce and reheat chicken: Stir in the unsalted butter until melted and the sauce becomes smooth and glossy. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon the lemon sauce over them, and simmer for another 1 to 2 minutes to reheat the chicken and meld the flavors.
- Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired and serve immediately alongside your choice of sides such as steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad.
Notes
- Serve with steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a side salad for a complete meal.
- For a juicier alternative, use chicken thighs instead of breasts.
- Add capers to the sauce for a tangy, briny twist that complements the lemon flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
