Save this easy Lemon Garlic Chicken! 🍋🍗 Juicy golden chicken is covered in a creamy garlic and lemon sauce for a quick dinner packed with flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes and delicious with pasta, rice, potatoes, or vegetables.
Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
Bright lemon, fresh garlic, and a silky cream sauce turn simple chicken breasts into an easy dinner that tastes much more elaborate than the effort required.
This Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken starts with chicken cooked until beautifully golden. The same skillet is then used to create a flavorful sauce with garlic, chicken broth, fresh lemon, cream, and optional Parmesan.
Everything comes together in around 30 minutes, making this an excellent recipe for busy evenings.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, about 600 g total
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or cooking cream
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan, optional
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices for serving
Instructions
Prepare the chicken
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If they’re particularly thick, gently pound them to a more even thickness so they cook at approximately the same rate.
Season both sides with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Cook until golden
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the chicken breasts and cook for approximately 4–6 minutes on each side, depending on their thickness.
Once golden and cooked through, transfer the chicken to a plate and keep it warm.
Make the lemon garlic sauce
Reduce the heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same skillet.
Cook for about 30–60 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the skillet to incorporate the flavorful browned bits left from cooking the chicken.
Add the lemon juice and zest.
Allow the mixture to gently simmer for approximately 2–3 minutes.
Make the sauce creamy
Turn the heat to low and gradually stir in the heavy cream.
If you’re using Parmesan, add it now and stir gently until melted.
Allow the sauce to simmer gently until it begins to thicken. Avoid a vigorous boil once you’ve added the cream.
Taste the sauce and adjust the salt, pepper, or lemon juice if necessary.
Finish the chicken
Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet.
Spoon the creamy lemon garlic sauce generously over each piece and allow everything to warm together for a few minutes.
For food safety, chicken should reach an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) at its thickest point.
Serve
Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and garnish with lemon slices.
Spoon plenty of sauce over the chicken when serving.
Tips for the Best Lemon Garlic Chicken
Try to use chicken breasts of similar thickness so they finish cooking at approximately the same time.
Fresh lemon juice gives the sauce a brighter flavor than bottled juice, while a little lemon zest intensifies the citrus aroma without adding additional acidity.
If your sauce becomes too thick, stir in a splash of chicken broth. If it’s too thin, let it simmer gently for another minute or two.
What to Serve With It
The creamy sauce makes this chicken especially good with foods that can soak it up.
Try serving it with mashed potatoes, pasta, steamed rice, roasted potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, or crusty bread.
A simple green salad also makes a refreshing side.
Storage and Reheating
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat gently over low heat rather than bringing the sauce to a strong boil. Add a splash of broth or cream if necessary to loosen the sauce.
Final Note
This Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken combines simple ingredients with bright, comforting flavors. The golden chicken, fragrant garlic, fresh lemon, and creamy skillet sauce make it an easy 30-minute recipe you’ll want to keep for weeknight dinners.