Tender, juicy Lemon Garlic Chicken is marinated & cooked in under an hour for a busy weeknight dinner! Easy lemon chicken with bright, zesty flavors that’s sauteed for simple cooking!
Garlic lemon chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of tangy lemon and pungent garlic creates a savory taste that is both refreshing and comforting in these sauteed chicken breasts!
Busy Weeknight Chicken Dinner
This lemon and garlic chicken is full of flavor from the tangy lemon juice, minced garlic, Italian seasonings, and spicy red pepper flakes. If you have a busy weeknight and need a fast dinner that is healthy and flavorful this is one the whole family will love and is ready in just 15 minutes. This is also great to prep ahead of time before guests arrive and you can sauté up in no time.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe Highlights
This is a simple chicken dinner recipe that you’ll definitely want to try. Things to know before you make it:
- You don’t need to marinate it long. It’s a pretty flavorful marinade and adding oil helps the process along. If you prep the recipe an hour before you plan to eat, the timing will work out well.
- Pouring the marinade into the skillet to cook along with the chicken creates the sauce. It makes for an easier dinner!
- Serve this chicken over rice or on top of mashed potatoes for a hearty meal everyone will enjoy.
Lemon Chicken Ingredients
Chicken: For the protein base of this dish, you will need 1 pound of chicken (about breasts), skinless boneless, sliced lengthways.
Lemon juice: For amazing citrus flavor use the juice from 1 lemon. An additional lemon can be used if you would like to use it for a garnish.
Avocado oil: Adding ⅛ cup of avocado oil gives the dish a fresh and light taste.
Garlic: Use 5 garlic cloves, minced, for a wonderful earthy and nutty flavor.
Italian seasoning: 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning adds even more amazing taste to this dish.
Garlic powder: Add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder for a light sweet flavor.
Red pepper flakes: Give this dish a subtle kick of spice by adding ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
Salt: Balance the amazing flavors by using ¼ teaspoon of coarse kosher salt.
Pepper: ¼ teaspoon of black pepper rounds out the amazing seasoning in this dish.
Butter: Cook the chicken in 2 TBSP of unsalted butter for a rich and buttery taste.
Chicken broth: You need ¼ cup of chicken broth for a light sauce for this chicken.
Parsley: Add 2 tablespoons of parsley, chopped & divided.
Skillet Sauteing Techniques for Lemon Garlic Chicken
Read the full recipe instructions below, but when sauteing chicken, be sure to keep these tips in mind:
- Slice the chicken in even pieces. Remember that when you cook chicken, the smaller pieces will cook faster. Slicing the chicken evenly helps to not overcook it.
- Use a large enough skillet that allows for space between the pieces of chicken. I’d use at least a 10″ skillet, ideally 12″ for this dish.
- Preheat the skillet so that it’s hot when the chicken goes in. It helps the chicken cook evenly and as a bonus, it’s done faster.
How long is this lemon chicken good for?
Lemon garlic chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to three months. When reheating, make sure to cook it to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is safe to eat.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken 2 chicken breasts, skinless boneless, sliced lengthways
- 1 lemon, juiced 1 additional lemon can be used if you would like to have it for a garnish
- ⅛ cup avocado oil
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp coarse kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 TBSP unsalted butter
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 TBSP parsley chopped, divided
Instructions
- Prep: Slice the chicken breast lengthwise to create smaller strips. Juice the lemon into a large bowl (to be used for all the ingredients). If you are using fresh garlic, mince that.
- Marinade: Combine the lemon juice, avocado oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Stir to mix well.
- Add in the chicken slices to the bowl of marinade. With tongs flip the chicken around until it is completely coated. If time is on your side, marinate the chicken for up to 30 minutes. Do not marinate overnight or longer than 2 hours as it can make the chicken tough.
- Cook: In a large sauté pan add the butter and melt over medium heat. Once the butter has melted add in the chicken. You can pour in all the marinade if you want more sauce.
- Cook the chicken for 4 minutes on one side, then flip it over and cook for an additional 4-7 minutes or until the juices run clear. You want an internal temperature of 165° F.
- Add in the chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the little bits off. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of parsley on top.
- Remove the pan from the heat, baste the chicken with the sauce. Sprinkle the remainder of the parsley on top. Serve immediately over cooked rice or mashed potatoes and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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How can you ensure chicken breast stays moist when cooking?
To keep chicken breast moist when cooking with lemon and garlic, it is important not to overcook it. Overcooked chicken can become dry and tough. Marinating the chicken in the lemon garlic mixture before cooking can also help keep it moist and flavorful.
How can lemon garlic chicken be adapted for a pasta dish?
Lemon garlic chicken can easily be adapted for a pasta dish by slicing the cooked chicken into strips and tossing it with cooked pasta. You can also add some of the leftover marinade to the pasta for extra flavor. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley for a delicious and easy meal.
Serving Suggestions for Lemon Garlic Chicken
Accompaniments: Garlic Chicken is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of sides. Here are a few suggestions to complement the flavors of this dish:
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted carrots, broccoli, and asparagus are great options that add texture and color to the plate.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are the perfect comfort food to serve alongside the chicken.
- Rice Pilaf: A flavorful rice pilaf with herbs and spices is a great way to round out the meal.
Presentation Tips: Presentation is key when it comes to serving Lemon Garlic Chicken. Here are a few tips to make sure your dish looks as good as it tastes:
- Garnish: A sprig of fresh herbs or a lemon wedge adds a pop of color and freshness to the plate.
- Plating: Place the chicken on a bed of rice or mashed potatoes and arrange the vegetables around it for an elegant presentation.
- Serving Dish: Use a white or neutral-colored serving dish to let the colors of the dish stand out.
We love cooking with lemon! Here are more ideas:
- Another easy dinner is this Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Asparagus. It’s cooked on a sheet pan all at once!
- If you’re craving pasta, this simple Lemon Butter Pasta or Lemon Bacon Pasta Salad are both great options! If you enjoy asparagus our Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta is one to try.
- These Lemon Rosemary Chicken Drumsticks are baked to perfection!
- I love a good Caesar salad and this recipe with a Lemon Caesar dressing is amazing!
Lemon Garlic Chicken is a simple but delicious meal that is great for hectic weeknights! This butter garlic lemon chicken is sure to become a new family favorite recipe.
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