My deep loathing of washing dishes and corresponding passion for dinners that cook in one pan is well documented by now (see: one pan meals). Latest love: Lemon Butter Chicken.
Tender, juicy chicken breasts bathing in a creamy lemon butter sauce that (impossible though it may sound) contains no cream, this easy chicken dinner is Paleo friendly, keto friendly, and people-who-love-delicious-food extra friendly.
This recipe also includes two healthy food groups, making it a complete meal.
Your choice of green vegetable cooks in the sauce right alongside the chicken. We opted for green beans the first time.
Given how much we also love this Baked Lemon Chicken, I suspect a version of Lemon Butter Chicken with asparagus is soon to follow.
How to Make Lemon Butter Chicken
This easy Lemon Butter Chicken starts on the stove, then transitions to the oven.
- Start with the Sear. See that gorgeous golden color on the outside of the chicken breasts? Thatโs the very first step to this recipe. Heat your skillet, melt the butter, then place your chicken breasts in the skillet and try to forget about them for a few minutes. The less you move the chicken, the better the sear will be.
- Sautรฉ Them Veggies. Once the chicken is seared, itโs time to cook the veggies. Shallots, Italian seasoning, and a generous heap of garlic keeps it breezy and delicious.
- Sauce It Up. Most Lemon Butter Chicken recipes call for heavy whipping cream. Instead, I took a note from my favorite Thai Chicken Curry and used full-fat coconut milk. DELICIOUS.
My Lemon Butter Chicken no cream spin yielded a sauce that was velvety rich and begging to be mopped up with a big hunk of crusty bread.
The mild coconut milk flavor tastes dreamy with the lemon yet is subtle. It supports the Lemon Butter Chicken without overpowering the recipe.
Once all the ingredients have been added to the pan, all that remains is to…
- Bake. This chicken recipe begins on the stove, then transitions to the oven. In the oven, the chicken cooks to juicy perfection, the sauce thickens, and the vegetables turn crisp-tender.
Another side effect of baked lemon chicken: your entire family is likely to show up in your kitchen while it cooks. The aroma of garlic and golden chicken baking in butter and citrus is not to be resisted. (This Crock Pot Chicken Marsala is another recipe that will smell incredible while it cooks.)
What to Serve with Lemon Butter Chicken
As written, this recipe yields a generous amount of protein and veggies and a good amount of the lemon butter sauce too.
If youโd like to round it out with another side, here are a few ideas:
- Pasta. Serve the chicken and vegetables over whole wheat noodles. Linguine or penne would be especially nice.
- Brown Rice. How we ate it! I cut up the chicken and vegetables into smaller pieces, then mixed it and the sauce with brown rice.
- Lemon Rice. For true citrus lovers.
- Cauliflower Rice. Ideal for those looking to keep the recipe low carb or seeking keto lemon butter chicken breasts.
- Warm Baguette. Ideal for sauce dunking.
- Roasted Vegetables of Your Choice. Try Roasted Potatoes and Carrots or Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
- Oven Safe Skillet. This skillet will take you from stovetop to oven.
- Instant Read Thermometer. The best way to check your chicken for doneness.
While I ever adore one-pan meals, Iโm especially appreciative of this chicken at the moment because we donโt have a dishwasher or kitchen sink!
Weโre in the midst of a kitchen remodel, which means that weโve either been eating out or โcookingโ things that donโt have any cleanup, since we donโt have a good way to wash things.
If youโd like to see the kitchenโs progress, be sure to follow Well Plated on Instagram and watch my Instagram stories.
Even after our kitchen is complete and I have a place to wash dishes again, this Lemon Butter Chicken is destined for the regular rotation.
With its fast prep, bright and creamy sauce, and one-pan prowess, I know it will be a well-loved go-to for you as well.
Lemon Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs or a mix!
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided (swap ghee to make Paleo friendly)
- 1 pound green beans ends trimmed and cut in half (or swap trimmed asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces)
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 medium lemon zest and juice, plus additional lemon slices for serving
- 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk do not use light or the sauce won't thicken properly
- Chopped fresh thyme or parsley
For serving:
- Prepared brown rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Nice crusty bread
- Whole wheat pasta
Instructions
- Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- In a large, ovenproof skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the chicken and sear on both sides until deeply golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium low. Add the remaining tablespoon butter, then the green beans, shallot, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring often, until the green beans are crisp-tender. Remove from the heat. Zest the lemon into the pan, then squeeze in the lemon juice. Slowly pour in the coconut milk while stirring to combine. Return the reserved chicken to the skillet.
- Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 15 to 25 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the chicken registers 165 degrees F and the juices run clear (the cook time will vary based on the size of your chicken). Top with parsley. Serve with extra lemon wedges and rice, pasta, and/or fresh bread for mopping up the sauce, if desired.
Nutrition
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Excellent meal. Love a one pot dish that everyone can eat. I used dairy free butter for my allergy son and it was great. My 5 year old said โthis is the best meal of all the other mealsโ. Thatโs one heck of a compliment!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Lindsay! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This didnโt work for me, the chicken dried out. The sauce also didnโt get any thicker. Maybe try again with bone in, skin on chicken? Not sure why my sauce was so liquidy. Probably the only recipe of well plated Iโve been disappointed in!
Iโm so sorry you had trouble with this recipe, Michelle. I know itโs frustrating to try a new recipe and not have it turn out. Did you make sure to use full-fat coconut milk? I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish it wouldโve been a hit for you too!
Made this wiwitwiwith asparagus instead of green beans. It was excellent! I have not used coconut milk in recipes that were not going to be coconut flavored and I was a little concerned, but this really did not have a coconut flavor. The lemon and other seasonings flavored the rich sauce.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Shay Ann! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This recipe is delicious, the lemon makes everything else taste better.
Hi Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Loved this recipe! Itโs super easy and doesnโt need too many ingredients. Highly recommend it!
Hi J! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Not my favourite recipe – it’s just too weird with the lemon and coconut milk. Definitely would switch the lemon for curry next time.
Iโm sorry to hear you didnโt enjoy the recipe, Kelly. Many other readers have tried it and loved it, but I know everyone has different tastes. I truly wish you would have loved it!
This is my family favourite recipe. I have made it several times already and each time there is no leftovers!! I love the lemon part of this recipe makes it so good with the coconut milk. I am a big fan of coconut milk (healthier and less fattening than cream). Please donโt skip searing the chicken as thatโs the trick to having that smoky smell. I tried with flat beans, asparagus and okras. I liked the combination with okras the best!! Thanks Erin for such a great and simple recipe. Hope to try your other healthy recipes!! I am all in for healthier version recipes.
Hi Leonie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is one of the best things Iโve ever made! Thank you for creating – I love how the recipe is broken down and timing is clear – really set me up for success! Amazing!
Hi Emily! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Excellent and delicious!
Hi Meghan! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Hi Erin,
I made this tonight and the whole house hold loved it. I did have to use lite coconut milk cause that is all the store had. Like you say it doesnโt thicken so I again removed the chicken and added a tablespoon of cornstarch diced the chicken and served it with mash potatoes and asparagus, yum!
Hi Dawn! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!