Discover the magic of creamy lemon garlic chicken, a weeknight dinner savior that’s as easy to make as it is delicious to eat. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal, perfect for busy evenings or impressing guests. Get ready for a burst of bright, zesty, and comforting flavors that will become a staple in your kitchen.
Key Ingredients for Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (optional)
How to Make Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken
This creamy lemon garlic chicken recipe is a breeze, taking under 30 minutes from start to finish! It features tender chicken swimming in a velvety, bright lemon-garlic sauce, making it an incredibly satisfying and flavorful meal. The key to its success lies in the simple yet powerful combination of fresh ingredients that create a rich texture and unforgettable taste.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Chicken: If using chicken breasts, you can either pound them to an even thickness (about 1/2 inch) or slice them horizontally into two thinner cutlets. This ensures even cooking. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously on both sides with salt and black pepper. If you like, you can also add a pinch of dried oregano for an extra layer of flavor.
Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan is hot, carefully add the seasoned chicken. Sear each side for about 3-5 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your chicken. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Don’t worry if it’s not completely cooked through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
Sauté the Garlic: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this can make it bitter.
Deglaze and Build the Sauce: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan again to loosen any remaining flavorful bits. Let the broth simmer for about 2 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly.
Add Cream and Cheese: Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir and cook over medium-low heat until the sauce begins to thicken and becomes creamy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes.
Introduce the Lemon: Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. If you find it too tart, you can add a tiny pinch of sugar, but usually, the cream and cheese balance the acidity beautifully.
Return Chicken to Pan: Place the seared chicken back into the skillet with the sauce. Spoon the creamy lemon garlic sauce over the chicken. Let it simmer gently for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking and absorb the flavors of the sauce.
Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Serve your delicious creamy lemon garlic chicken immediately. It’s fantastic served with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or a side of steamed vegetables like broccoli or asparagus.
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken
You’ll fall head over heels for this creamy lemon garlic chicken because of its incredibly luscious, velvety sauce that coats every tender piece of chicken. This dish is a fantastic budget-friendly option, proving that gourmet-inspired meals don’t need to cost a fortune when you can whip them up at home!
The bright, zesty notes from the lemon perfectly complement the rich creaminess and pungent garlic, creating a flavor profile that’s both comforting and delightfully sophisticated, unlike a plain lemon chicken. Give this delightful recipe a try tonight – you won’t be disappointed!
Storing and Reheating Tips
To store your delicious creamy lemon garlic chicken leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate promptly. Properly stored, leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
When you’re ready to reheat, gently warm the chicken and sauce in a skillet over low to medium-low heat until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave, stirring occasionally for even heating. If the sauce seems a bit too thick, you can add a splash of chicken broth or a touch of water to loosen it up.
For longer storage, creamy lemon garlic chicken can be frozen. Let the dish cool completely, then portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as described above.
Final Thoughts
This creamy lemon garlic chicken is a true testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly spectacular. We hope you’ll try this recipe and find as much joy in making and savoring it as we do. Happy cooking!
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Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- If using chicken breasts, you can either pound them to an even thickness (about 1/2 inch) or slice them horizontally into two thinner cutlets. This ensures even cooking. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously on both sides with salt and black pepper. If you like, you can also add a pinch of dried oregano for an extra layer of flavor.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, to taste salt and black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted and the pan is hot, carefully add the seasoned chicken. Sear each side for about 3-5 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your chicken. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate. Don’t worry if it’s not completely cooked through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon butter, 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this can make it bitter.4 cloves garlic, minced
- Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan again to loosen any remaining flavorful bits. Let the broth simmer for about 2 minutes, allowing it to reduce slightly.1/2 cup chicken broth
- Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Continue to stir and cook over medium-low heat until the sauce begins to thicken and becomes creamy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes.1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. If you find it too tart, you can add a tiny pinch of sugar, but usually, the cream and cheese balance the acidity beautifully.1 medium lemon juice of, to taste salt and black pepper
- Place the seared chicken back into the skillet with the sauce. Spoon the creamy lemon garlic sauce over the chicken. Let it simmer gently for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking and absorb the flavors of the sauce.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Serve your delicious creamy lemon garlic chicken immediately. It’s fantastic served with pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, or a side of steamed vegetables like broccoli or asparagus.1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped