Description
This Lemon Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and served with a tangy, buttery lemon sauce infused with garlic and herbs. Perfect for a healthy weeknight meal, it blends bright citrus notes and savory richness for a delightful experience.
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 the chicken: Season chicken breasts evenly with salt and pepper on both sides to enhance flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until they turn golden brown and are cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce base: In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. This step infuses the butter with garlic flavor.
- Add liquids and zest: Pour in the chicken broth, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and add the lemon zest. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a spatula to incorporate their deep flavor into the sauce.
- Simmer the sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to reduce slightly and concentrate the flavors. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken and let everything simmer together for an additional 2-3 minutes to meld the flavors and reheat the chicken.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle fresh thyme and chopped parsley over the chicken just before serving to add a fresh herbal note and vibrant color.
Notes
- If fresh thyme is unavailable, dried thyme can be used but use sparingly as it is more concentrated.
- For a thicker sauce, you can simmer it a bit longer or add a small slurry of cornstarch and water.
- This dish pairs beautifully with rice, steamed vegetables, or a light salad.
- Lemon juice and zest add bright citrus flavor; adjust according to your preference for tanginess.
