Here’s a flavorful Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe—juicy chicken with a bright, garlicky, lemony sauce, perfect for a weeknight dinner or special meal.
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp dried oregano or thyme (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare chicken
- Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Sear chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make lemon garlic sauce
- Reduce heat to medium.
- Add garlic to the same skillet and sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, lemon juice, and zest. Scrape any browned bits from the pan.
- Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Finish chicken
- Return chicken to skillet.
- Simmer 5–7 minutes until chicken is cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
- Stir in butter and herbs until melted and sauce is slightly thickened.
- Serve
- Spoon sauce over chicken and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables.
Pro Tips
- Extra flavor: Marinate chicken in lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil for 30 minutes before cooking.
- Juicy chicken: Don’t overcook; thin breasts cook faster.
- Creamy variation: Stir in ¼ cup heavy cream for a creamy lemon garlic sauce.
- Make ahead: Sauce can be made in advance and heated with chicken before serving.
If you want, I can also provide a sheet pan lemon garlic chicken with vegetables version that’s easy and hands-off for dinner.
Do you want me to do that?
