Description
Lemon Garlic Cream Chicken Skillet is a quick and easy one-pan recipe featuring tender boneless chicken breasts cooked to perfection in a luscious lemon garlic cream sauce. The sauce combines fresh lemon juice and zest, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese for a rich, flavorful, and comforting dish perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy meals. Minimal cleanup and versatile serving options make this recipe a go-to for both family meals and entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless chicken breasts (fresh, evenly sized)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
Sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon (freshly squeezed and grated)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or thyme, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare and Season the Chicken: Start by patting your chicken breasts dry to ensure a good sear. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance natural flavors and help form a delicious crust when cooked.
- Sear the Chicken: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and add the chicken breasts. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to rest.
- Sauté Garlic and Deglaze: Lower the heat to medium, add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits for added flavor.
- Make the Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce: Stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese. Let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to keep it smooth.
- Combine Chicken with Sauce: Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning some sauce over the top. Simmer together for a couple more minutes so the chicken can soak up the creamy, zesty sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped herbs like parsley or thyme over the skillet for a fresh pop of color and flavor. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken to help it cook evenly and reduce sticking.
- Remove chicken at 165°F to keep it juicy and tender.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest flavor.
- Deglaze the skillet thoroughly to incorporate all browned bits into the sauce for deeper flavor.
- Simmer the sauce gently to achieve the perfect creamy consistency without curdling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: lemon garlic cream chicken, one-pan chicken skillet, creamy lemon chicken, easy weeknight chicken, gluten free chicken recipe