Description
Mediterranean Lemon Chicken with Artichokes & Olives is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a tangy lemon sauce with artichoke hearts and Kalamata olives. This quick and easy skillet recipe captures the essence of Mediterranean cuisine, perfect for a healthy and satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Sauce & Flavorings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lemon, zest and juice
- 1 cup artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, ensuring it is hot enough to sear the chicken properly.
- Cook the chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Add them to the skillet and cook for 6-7 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned, infusing the oil with flavor.
- Add artichokes, olives, and lemon: Stir in the chopped artichoke hearts, sliced Kalamata olives, lemon zest, and lemon juice, mixing well to combine all the vibrant Mediterranean flavors.
- Deglaze and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth while scraping the bottom of the skillet to release any browned bits. This will add depth to the sauce.
- Return chicken and finish cooking: Place the cooked chicken breasts back into the skillet. Simmer everything together for an additional 5-7 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and the chicken to reheat and absorb the flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the dish just before serving for a fresh, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh oregano for dried if available, adjusting quantity to taste.
- For extra richness, a splash of white wine can be added when deglazing instead of part of the chicken broth.
- If using frozen artichokes, ensure they are fully thawed and drained before adding.
- To make it gluten-free, just confirm your chicken broth is gluten-free.
- This dish pairs beautifully with couscous, quinoa, or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.
