Quick Zesty Lemon Chicken
A bright, tangy lemon chicken recipe ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights and crowd-pleasing dinners.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb / 450 g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
- Lemon zest from 1 large lemon
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth (120 ml), low sodium preferred
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Wait until it shimmers but does not smoke (about 1-2 minutes).
- Add chicken breasts to the pan. Cook without moving for 4-5 minutes until the underside is golden brown and releases easily. Flip and cook the other side for 4 minutes. If chicken is thick, lower heat and cover pan for 2-3 minutes to finish cooking.
- Remove chicken and set aside on a plate, tented with foil to keep warm. Lower heat to medium.
- Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard. Stir and scrape browned bits from pan. Let sauce simmer and reduce for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to the pan and spoon sauce over it. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to meld flavors and warm through.
- Sprinkle fresh lemon zest and chopped parsley over the chicken. Serve with your favorite sides.
Notes
For a juicier option, use chicken thighs and adjust cooking time to 6-7 minutes per side. If sauce is too thin, increase heat and reduce longer but watch carefully to avoid burning. Let chicken rest after searing for better tenderness. Use fresh lemons for best flavor; bottled lemon juice can be substituted with slight adjustments.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 38
Keywords: lemon chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, zesty chicken, weeknight meal, healthy chicken, gluten-free, dairy-free