Skillet Lemon Chicken: A Zesty Delight in Every Bite
Lemon chicken is a classic dish, known for its bright, citrusy flavors and tender, juicy chicken. This skillet lemon chicken breast recipe is a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy this timeless favorite. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe utilizes a single skillet, minimizing cleanup and maximizing flavor. The chicken breasts are seared to golden perfection, then simmered in a luscious lemon-garlic sauce that will tantalize your taste buds. Get ready for a burst of sunshine on your plate!
## Why You’ll Love This Skillet Lemon Chicken
* **Quick and Easy:** This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
* **One-Pan Wonder:** Everything is cooked in a single skillet, reducing cleanup time significantly.
* **Flavorful and Delicious:** The lemon-garlic sauce is bright, tangy, and incredibly flavorful.
* **Versatile:** Serve it with pasta, rice, vegetables, or a salad for a complete meal.
* **Healthy and Nutritious:** Chicken breasts are a lean protein source, and lemon juice is packed with Vitamin C.
## Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start cooking, gather these simple ingredients:
* **Chicken Breasts:** 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 ounces each)
* **All-Purpose Flour:** 1/4 cup, for dredging the chicken
* **Salt and Black Pepper:** To taste, for seasoning the chicken and sauce
* **Olive Oil:** 2 tablespoons, for searing the chicken
* **Butter:** 2 tablespoons, for adding richness to the sauce
* **Garlic:** 4 cloves, minced, for aromatic flavor
* **Chicken Broth:** 1 cup, the base of the lemon sauce
* **Lemon Juice:** 1/4 cup, freshly squeezed, for the signature lemon flavor
* **Lemon Zest:** 1 teaspoon, adds a bright citrus note
* **Dried Oregano:** 1 teaspoon, for herbaceous flavor
* **Fresh Parsley:** 2 tablespoons, chopped, for garnish (optional)
* **Red Pepper Flakes:** 1/4 teaspoon (optional), for a touch of heat
## Equipment You’ll Need
* Large Skillet (preferably cast iron or stainless steel)
* Shallow Dish (for dredging the chicken)
* Measuring Cups and Spoons
* Cutting Board
* Knife
* Lemon Juicer (optional)
* Zester (optional)
## Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed instructions to create the perfect skillet lemon chicken:
### Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
1. **Pound the Chicken:** Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap or in a resealable plastic bag. Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound the chicken to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch. This helps the chicken cook evenly and quickly.
2. **Season the Chicken:** In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure even distribution.
3. **Dredge the Chicken:** Dredge each chicken breast in the flour mixture, ensuring that both sides are fully coated. Shake off any excess flour.
### Step 2: Sear the Chicken
1. **Heat the Skillet:** Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Make sure the skillet is hot before adding the chicken.
2. **Sear the Chicken:** Carefully place the dredged chicken breasts in the hot skillet, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. If necessary, cook the chicken in batches.
3. **Cook Each Side:** Sear the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer.
4. **Remove from Skillet:** Once cooked, remove the chicken breasts from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.
### Step 3: Make the Lemon-Garlic Sauce
1. **Melt the Butter:** In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
2. **Sauté the Garlic:** Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
3. **Add Chicken Broth:** Pour the chicken broth into the skillet and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. These browned bits add a lot of flavor to the sauce.
4. **Add Lemon Juice and Zest:** Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
5. **Simmer the Sauce:** Let the sauce simmer for about 5-7 minutes, or until it has slightly thickened. This allows the flavors to meld together.
### Step 4: Combine Chicken and Sauce
1. **Return Chicken to Skillet:** Carefully return the seared chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the lemon-garlic sauce.
2. **Coat the Chicken:** Spoon the sauce over the chicken breasts, ensuring that they are well coated.
3. **Simmer Briefly:** Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse into the chicken.
### Step 5: Garnish and Serve
1. **Garnish:** Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the chicken and sauce (if using).
2. **Serve:** Serve the skillet lemon chicken immediately. It pairs well with pasta, rice, vegetables, or a side salad.
## Tips for the Best Skillet Lemon Chicken
* **Use Fresh Lemon Juice:** Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides a brighter and more vibrant flavor than bottled lemon juice.
* **Don’t Overcook the Chicken:** Overcooked chicken can be dry and tough. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
* **Adjust the Lemon Flavor:** If you prefer a more intense lemon flavor, you can add more lemon juice or lemon zest to the sauce. Taste and adjust as needed.
* **Add a Splash of White Wine:** For an extra layer of flavor, you can add a splash of dry white wine to the sauce along with the chicken broth.
* **Thicken the Sauce:** If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can whisk together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and add it to the sauce while it’s simmering. Cook until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency.
* **Use a Cast Iron Skillet:** A cast iron skillet provides even heat distribution and helps to create a beautiful sear on the chicken.
* **Pound Chicken Evenly:** Pounding the chicken to an even thickness ensures that it cooks evenly and quickly.
## Serving Suggestions
This skillet lemon chicken is incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of side dishes. Here are a few suggestions:
* **Pasta:** Serve the chicken over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine. Toss the pasta with some of the lemon-garlic sauce for added flavor.
* **Rice:** Serve the chicken with steamed white rice, brown rice, or quinoa. The rice will soak up the delicious lemon-garlic sauce.
* **Vegetables:** Serve the chicken with roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts. The bright lemon flavor complements the vegetables perfectly.
* **Salad:** Serve the chicken with a fresh green salad for a light and healthy meal.
* **Mashed Potatoes:** Creamy mashed potatoes are a comforting side dish that pairs well with the lemon chicken.
* **Crusty Bread:** Serve the chicken with crusty bread for soaking up the flavorful sauce.
## Variations
Here are a few variations to customize this skillet lemon chicken recipe to your liking:
* **Creamy Lemon Chicken:** Add 1/4 cup of heavy cream to the sauce at the end for a richer and creamier sauce.
* **Mushroom Lemon Chicken:** Sauté sliced mushrooms in the skillet along with the garlic for a savory addition.
* **Spinach Lemon Chicken:** Add a few handfuls of fresh spinach to the skillet at the end and cook until wilted.
* **Sun-Dried Tomato Lemon Chicken:** Add a handful of sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce for a tangy and flavorful twist.
* **Spicy Lemon Chicken:** Add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce for a spicier dish.
* **Herbed Lemon Chicken:** Use a combination of fresh herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, and oregano, for a more complex flavor.
## Make-Ahead Instructions
This skillet lemon chicken can be prepared in advance for easy meal prepping. Here’s how:
* **Prepare the Chicken:** Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
* **Make the Sauce:** The lemon-garlic sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the sauce before adding the chicken.
* **Assemble the Dish:** You can sear the chicken and make the sauce ahead of time, then combine them just before serving. This will save you time on busy weeknights.
## Storage Instructions
Store leftover skillet lemon chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the chicken in the skillet over medium heat or in the microwave.
## Nutritional Information (Approximate)
* Calories: 350-400
* Protein: 35-40g
* Fat: 15-20g
* Carbohydrates: 10-15g
*Note: Nutritional information may vary depending on specific ingredients and portion sizes.*
## Skillet Lemon Chicken Recipe Card
**Yields:** 4 servings
**Prep time:** 10 minutes
**Cook time:** 20 minutes
**Ingredients:**
* 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6-8 ounces each)
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* Salt and black pepper to taste
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 cup chicken broth
* 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
* 1 teaspoon lemon zest
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
* 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
**Instructions:**
1. **Prepare the Chicken:** Pound chicken to 1/2 inch thickness. Dredge in flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
2. **Sear the Chicken:** Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet.
3. **Make the Sauce:** Melt butter in the same skillet. Sauté garlic for 1 minute until fragrant. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. **Combine Chicken and Sauce:** Return chicken to skillet. Spoon sauce over chicken and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
5. **Garnish and Serve:** Garnish with parsley (if using) and serve immediately with pasta, rice, vegetables, or salad.
Enjoy this delightful and easy skillet lemon chicken recipe! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a perfect addition to your weeknight dinner rotation.