Description
This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Breast recipe offers tender, juicy chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and bathed in a luscious lemon garlic butter sauce. The zesty lemon combined with rich butter and aromatic garlic creates a perfect balance of flavors, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that’s quick, easy, and delicious. Garnished with fresh parsley and optional red pepper flakes for a subtle kick, this dish pairs wonderfully with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup chicken broth
Garnish
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and black pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and sear them for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until they develop a golden crust and are fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to keep warm.
- Prepare the Garlic Butter Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. In the same skillet, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add Lemon and Broth: Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes, letting it reduce slightly and concentrate in flavor.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet. Spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce over them, and let everything simmer together for another 2 to 3 minutes to meld the flavors and reheat the chicken.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the chicken for a burst of color and freshness. Optionally, add a pinch of red pepper flakes for subtle heat. Serve the chicken warm alongside your favorite sides.
Notes
- For even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before seasoning.
- You can substitute chicken broth with white wine or vegetable broth for different flavors.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level or omit for milder taste.
- This recipe pairs wonderfully with steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes, or rice.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently to preserve moisture.
