Description
This Lemon Chicken Skillet recipe is a quick, fuss-free meal that combines juicy chicken breasts with bright, tangy lemon flavors and fresh herbs. Perfect for busy weeknights, it uses minimal ingredients, cooks in one pan for easy cleanup, and delivers vibrant, refreshing tastes that can be customized to your liking.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Citrus & Aromatics
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
Cooking Base
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Herbs & Seasoning
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or thyme (chopped)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor before cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the chicken breasts. Cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through, then remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth, then stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to build flavor.
- Combine and Simmer: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon some sauce over the top, reduce heat, and simmer for 3-5 minutes so the chicken soaks up all those tangy flavors.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs: Just before serving, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or thyme for color and an herbal lift that brightens the dish.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even searing and juiciness.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan to achieve a perfect golden crust.
- Zest lemons before juicing for easier preparation.
- Deglaze the pan thoroughly to unlock all caramelized flavors.
- Taste the sauce before finishing; adjust acidity with more lemon juice or broth if needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg