Description
This Lemon Chicken Skillet recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and simmered in a tangy lemon-garlic sauce. Enhanced with fresh herbs and simple ingredients, it’s perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Sauce
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or thyme, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry using paper towels, then season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance their flavor before cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until they are golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, then stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to deepen the sauce’s flavor.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some of the sauce over the top, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let everything simmer for 3-5 minutes. This allows the chicken to absorb the bright, tangy flavors of the lemon sauce.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs: Just before serving, sprinkle the freshly chopped parsley or thyme over the chicken to add a fresh herbal aroma and a burst of color.
Notes
- Feel free to swap parsley with fresh thyme or basil for a different herbal flavor.
- Serve this dish with steamed vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet when searing chicken to ensure proper browning.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
