Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring juicy chicken breasts in a rich, tangy lemon and garlic cream sauce. Ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3–4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Pound chicken breasts to an even 1/2-inch thickness. Season generously with salt and pepper, then dredge lightly in flour, shaking off excess.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add lemon zest, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Return chicken to the pan, nestling it into the sauce. Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Taste sauce and adjust salt if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Pound chicken evenly for consistent cooking. Do not boil the cream to prevent curdling. Fresh lemon juice and zest are essential for flavor. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce butter. This recipe does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken w
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 32
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 38
Keywords: chicken dinner, one pan meal, lemon garlic chicken, creamy chicken, weeknight dinner, easy recipes, family friendly