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Irresistible Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Breasts

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A quick and easy recipe for juicy chicken breasts cooked in a flavorful lemon garlic butter sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds / 680 grams)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (about 56 grams), softened
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced fresh
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons / 45 ml)
  • Zest from half a lemon
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (120 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (30 ml)
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Pound thicker pieces to an even thickness of about ¾ inch (2 cm) for uniform cooking. (Approx. 5 minutes)
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and warm until shimmering but not smoking. (Approx. 2 minutes)
  3. Place chicken breasts in the hot pan and cook without moving for 4-5 minutes until golden brown on the bottom. Flip and sear the other side for another 4 minutes. The chicken should have a golden crust but not be fully cooked. (Approx. 8-10 minutes)
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Push chicken to one side of the pan. Add butter and minced garlic to the open side. Stir garlic gently in melting butter until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  5. Pour in lemon juice, lemon zest, and chicken broth. Stir to combine, scraping up browned bits from the pan bottom. (Approx. 1-2 minutes)
  6. Spoon some sauce over the chicken breasts. Cover the pan loosely with a lid or foil and simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  7. Remove the lid and let the sauce reduce slightly if too thin, about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust salt or lemon if needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken.
  8. Transfer chicken breasts to plates and spoon the lemon garlic butter sauce on top. Serve immediately.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before seasoning to get a nice sear. Use medium-high heat to avoid burning garlic. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Let chicken rest a few minutes after cooking to redistribute juices. If sauce reduces too quickly, lower heat and add a splash more broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon garlic butter chicken, juicy chicken breasts, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, quick chicken recipe, buttery chicken, garlic chicken

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/irresistible-lemon-garlic-butter-chicken-breasts-easy-recipe-for-juicy-meals/