Description
A quick and easy 30-minute dinner featuring boneless skinless chicken breasts in a luscious creamy lemon garlic sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1 large lemon, zest and juice
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Mince garlic, zest and juice the lemon, and grate the Parmesan cheese.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F). Remove chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Lower heat to medium and add minced garlic to the pan. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Add heavy cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, and dried thyme. Stir and simmer gently for about 3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove pan from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan until melted and sauce is smooth. If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or water to loosen. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
- Return chicken breasts to the pan and spoon sauce over them. Warm together for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before searing for a golden crust. Use freshly grated Parmesan for a smooth sauce. Keep heat moderate when adding cream to prevent sauce separation. Let chicken rest tented with foil after cooking. Use low-sodium chicken broth for better flavor control. Cook chicken in batches if skillet is small to avoid overcrowding.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 45
Keywords: lemon garlic chicken, creamy chicken recipe, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, one-pan meal