Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Skillet
Cook tender chicken breasts or thighs in a single skillet using a simple, bright sauce made from lemon, garlic, and butter. This is a fast weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 6 thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces evenly with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the chicken in the hot skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the sauce simmer and reduce slightly for 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken pieces.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving immediately.
Notes
- If you use chicken thighs, the cooking time might be slightly longer.
- For a thicker sauce, mix 1 teaspoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water, then whisk this slurry into the simmering sauce in step 5.
- Serve this chicken with steamed green beans or rice to soak up the extra sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 45
- Cholesterol: 140