Description
This Garlic Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts cooked in a fragrant garlic, lemon, and parsley sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it combines simple ingredients with easy steps to deliver a savory and slightly tangy meal that pairs beautifully with your favorite sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional for extra richness)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor before cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for 6-7 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C). Remove from skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté the Garlic: Reduce heat to medium, add minced garlic to the same skillet, and cook for about 1 minute while stirring constantly until fragrant. Add crushed red pepper flakes if a bit of spice is desired.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in chicken broth and fresh lemon juice, scraping up browned bits from the pan bottom. Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly and concentrate flavors.
- Add Fresh Parsley and Butter: Stir in chopped parsley and optional unsalted butter, allowing the butter to melt and enrich the sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, spooning garlic sauce over the top. Let the chicken soak in the sauce for another 2-3 minutes before serving, with extra sauce drizzled over the dish.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh garlic and parsley for a bright, fresh flavor.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level or omit for a milder dish.
- Serving this chicken over rice, pasta, or with steamed vegetables complements the garlic lemon sauce beautifully.
- The optional butter adds richness but can be omitted to keep the dish lighter.
