The Best Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe for Zesty Family Dinners

Succulent lemon butter chicken elevates ordinary weeknight dinners into culinary celebrations of bright, zesty flavors.

Creamy and tangy, this dish promises a delightful balance between rich butter and citrusy notes.

Home cooks adore how simple ingredients can create such magnificent results.

The recipe combines classic techniques with modern flavor profiles that elevate humble chicken breasts.

Tender meat absorbs the luxurious sauce, creating a mouthwatering experience that feels both sophisticated and comforting.

Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of tanginess and richness that will have everyone requesting seconds.

Families and food enthusiasts will fall in love with this effortless yet impressive meal.

Why Lemon Butter Chicken Always Delivers

• Quick and Easy Weeknight Wonder: This lemon butter chicken transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy families craving delicious dinners without complicated cooking techniques.
• Flavor-Packed Texture Explosion: The crispy golden exterior from egg and flour dredging combined with the silky, tangy lemon butter sauce creates a mouthwatering contrast that delights taste buds with every single bite.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Suitable for elegant dinner parties or casual family meals, this recipe appeals to both adults and kids with its mild, comforting flavors and straightforward preparation that doesn't compromise on taste or presentation.
• Protein-Rich Comfort Classic: Lean chicken breasts get a luxurious upgrade through a simple cooking method, delivering a nutritious meal that feels indulgent while keeping calories in check at just 310 kcal per serving.

Ingredients for Flavor-Packed Lemon Butter Chicken

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main base of the dish, best when fresh and evenly sized for consistent cooking.

• Flour, Garlic Powder, Kosher Salt, Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Create a flavorful and crispy exterior for the chicken, with seasonings that enhance the overall taste profile.

• Eggs, Whole Milk or Heavy Cream: Help create a smooth coating that helps breading adhere to chicken, adding richness and helping to seal in moisture.
• Butter: Provides rich, creamy flavor and helps with browning the chicken and creating a smooth sauce.
• Chicken Stock: Adds depth of flavor and creates the base for the sauce.
• Cornstarch, Water: Thickens the sauce, giving it a silky and glossy consistency.
• Lemon Juice: Adds bright, tangy flavor that cuts through the richness of the butter and chicken.

• Lemon Slices: Provides fresh visual appeal and allows diners to add extra citrus flavor if desired.

How to Cook Lemon Butter Chicken Just Right

Step 1: Prepare Chicken

Sprinkle chicken breasts with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Slice horizontally if too thick to ensure even cooking.

Step 2: Set Up Coating Stations

• First dish: All-purpose flour
• Second dish: Whisked eggs with milk or heavy cream

Step 3: Coat Chicken

• Dredge each chicken piece thoroughly in flour
• Dip floured chicken into egg mixture, ensuring complete coverage

Step 4: Sear Golden Chicken

• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat
• Cook coated chicken until golden brown
• Cook 3-4 minutes per side
• Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F

Step 5: Create Luscious Sauce

• Deglaze skillet with chicken stock
• Add remaining stock and fresh lemon juice
• Incorporate final tablespoon of butter
• Simmer for 5 minutes

Step 6: Finish and Thicken Sauce

• Add cornstarch mixture to sauce
• Return chicken to skillet
• Top with fresh lemon slices
• Simmer 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4

Tips for Juicy Lemon Butter Chicken Every Time

• Slice Smartly: Cut chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry edges.
• Flour Power: Shake off excess flour after dredging to create a light, crispy coating that won't become soggy.
• Heat Control: Maintain medium heat to achieve golden-brown chicken without burning the butter.
• Deglazing Trick: Use chicken stock to lift those delicious browned bits from the skillet, adding extra flavor to the sauce.
• Lemon Love: Fresh lemon slices not only look beautiful but infuse the dish with bright, zesty aromatics during the final simmer.

Keeping Leftover Lemon Butter Chicken Tasting Fresh

• Refrigerate: Store leftover lemon butter chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken in a baking dish, add a splash of chicken stock to prevent drying, cover with foil, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated through.
• Microwave Option: Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, drizzle with extra sauce, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, checking temperature to avoid overcooking.

Perfect Pairings for Lemon Butter Chicken

• Zesty Wine Companion: Pair this lemon butter chicken with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to enhance the bright citrus notes and complement the rich, buttery sauce.
• Fresh Side Kick: Serve alongside a light quinoa salad with fresh herbs like parsley and dill, adding a refreshing contrast to the tender, lemony chicken.
• Perfect Bread Partner: Grab a crusty French baguette or garlic bread to soak up the delicious pan sauce, allowing every drop of flavor to be enjoyed.
• Vegetable Harmony: Roast some asparagus spears or sauté green beans with garlic to create a vibrant green side that balances the chicken's creamy texture and zesty profile.

Delicious Twists on Lemon Butter Chicken

• Herb-Infused Citrus Chicken: Replace plain chicken with a vibrant herb and lemon marinade, using fresh rosemary, thyme, and parsley for enhanced aromatic flavors.
• Mediterranean Olive Fusion: Add chopped kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce, creating a rich Mediterranean-inspired chicken dish with tangy undertones.
• Spicy Cajun Lemon Chicken: Substitute garlic powder with Cajun seasoning, adding cayenne pepper and paprika for a bold, zesty southern-style chicken preparation.
• Creamy White Wine Variant: Replace chicken stock with dry white wine, incorporating heavy cream for a luxurious, velvety sauce that elevates the classic recipe's elegance.

Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Mediterranean-inspired lemon butter chicken brings zesty elegance to weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken breasts bathed in silky herb-infused sauce promise a quick, luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Seasoning and Coating:

• Garlic powder to taste
• Kosher salt, as needed
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Flour, for dusting
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) whole milk or heavy cream

Sauce and Cooking Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) butter, divided
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
• Lemon slices for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare chicken breasts by seasoning with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If the breasts are thick, carefully slice them horizontally to ensure even cooking.
2. Create two separate shallow dishes: one with flour for coating, and another with eggs whisked together with milk or cream.
3. Thoroughly coat each seasoned chicken piece in flour, ensuring complete and even coverage.
4. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, creating a golden cooking surface.
5. Dip the flour-coated chicken into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
6. Carefully place chicken into the heated skillet, cooking until a beautiful golden crust forms, approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
7. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside momentarily.
8. Deglaze the skillet with a splash of chicken stock, scraping up any flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
9. Pour in remaining chicken stock and lemon juice, then add the final tablespoon of butter to create a rich, tangy sauce.
10. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for 5 minutes, developing depth of flavor.
11. Incorporate the cornstarch mixture to thicken the sauce, stirring until smooth and slightly glossy.
12. Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling the pieces into the sauce.
13. Arrange fresh lemon slices on top of the chicken for additional brightness and presentation.
14. Simmer the entire dish for 8-10 minutes, allowing the chicken to reheat and the flavors to meld together completely.

Notes

• Upgrade your weeknight dinner with this zesty, mouthwatering chicken that combines tangy lemon and rich, creamy butter in one skillet.
• Dredging creates a crispy golden exterior that locks in juicy chicken flavors while the quick pan sauce delivers restaurant-quality results at home.
• Thinly sliced chicken cooks faster and more evenly.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 18 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 42 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg