Discover the delight of Lemon Chicken, a dish that combines simplicity and elegance. Ready in just 30 minutes, it features chicken breasts in a zesty lemon butter sauce with garlic and Italian herbs. This versatile recipe is perfect for both quick weeknight dinners and impressive lunches.
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It's adaptable to various sides like pasta, rice, or vegetables. Easy to make with common ingredients, you can choose chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
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Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
To create this delicious Lemon Chicken, you'll need simple, everyday ingredients readily found in most grocery stores. Let's take a look at what you'll need for this recipe.
Ingredients for Flour Coating:
- Flours: All-purpose flour and cornstarch are key for achieving that golden, crispy coating on the chicken, ensuring each bite is satisfyingly crunchy.
- Seasoning Powders: A blend of onion and garlic powders lays a foundation of deep, aromatic flavors, while black pepper and chili flakes introduce a playful heat and spice that tantalize the palate.
Ingredients for Sauce and Lemon Chicken:
- Chicken Breast: Opt for thinly sliced skinless, boneless chicken breasts for quick cooking and tender results. If using whole breasts, pound them to ensure even thickness and optimal texture.
- Onion and Garlic: These foundational aromatics infuse the sauce with a delightful sweetness and robust garlicky depth, elevating the overall flavor profile.
- Butter and Oil: A blend of olive oil and butter creates a luxuriously rich and buttery taste. If using salted butter, be mindful of the overall salt content in the dish.
- Chicken Bouillon or Broth: This is a flavor powerhouse, adding a rich and savory depth to the sauce, enhancing its complexity.
- Lemon Juice: Along with the juice, consider adding lemon slices or zest to introduce an extra layer of bright, citrusy zest to the dish.
- Seasonings: A mix of chili flakes, black pepper, and dried Italian herbs contributes a subtle heat and a burst of aromatic freshness, rounding out the flavors beautifully.
How to make Lemon Chicken?
Dive into this Lemon Chicken recipe with our step-by-step guide, complete with photos and a video to ensure your culinary success. From coating and frying the chicken to crafting the zesty lemon butter sauce, we've got you covered for a mouth-watering creation. Let's begin!
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Lemon Chicken
Enjoy Lemon Chicken, a juicy and flavor-packed dish ready in just 30 minutes. Made with chicken breast, simple seasonings, and a zesty Lemon Butter Sauce, it's an easy, versatile meal perfect for any lunch or dinner. Pair it with pasta, rice, or vegetables for a delicious, restaurant-quality experience.
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Ingredients
For Flour Coating
- 1.5 lb Chicken Breast, thinly sliced
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- ¼ cup Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- ½ tsp Salt
For Frying Chicken
- 2 tbsp Butter, salted or unsalted
- 1 tbsp Oil
For Lemon Butter Sauce
- 4 tbsp Onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp Garlic , chopped
- 1 cube Chicken Bouillon , small
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- ½ tsp Pepper Powder, black
- ½ tsp Italian Herbs, mixed
- 3 tbsp Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
- ½ cup Water
- 4 slice Lemon
- Salt, to taste
For Garnishing
- Parsley, to garnish
Instructions
Flour Coating Chicken Breast
- Prepare the coating mixture by combining all-purpose flour, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, chili flakes, black pepper powder, Italian herbs, and salt in a tray. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed for a uniform flavor in every bite.
- Gently coat each chicken breast in the flour mixture, making sure it's evenly covered for a consistent crispy texture. Shake off any excess flour to avoid clumping. Repeat this step for each chicken breast, setting them aside on a separate plate.
Frying the Chicken
- In a large pan, pour in oil and add butter. Heat over medium flame until the butter is fully melted and mixed with the oil, creating a perfect blend for frying.
- Carefully place the flour-coated chicken breasts in the pan. Fry them for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Look for a golden and crispy exterior as a sign of perfect doneness.
- Once the chicken is evenly fried and golden brown, remove it from the oil. Set the chicken aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil, preserving its crispiness for serving.
Preparing Lemon Butter Sauce
- In the same pan, retain the mixture of butter and oil. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing them until they release their enticing aroma, setting the base for a flavorful sauce.
- Next, incorporate the chicken bouillon, a pinch of chili flakes, a dash of black pepper, and a sprinkle of Italian herbs. Stir thoroughly, ensuring these seasonings meld together, enriching the sauce's complexity.
- Pour in the fresh lemon juice, add water, and place lemon slices into the mix. Stir well and let it simmer, allowing it to boil gently for 3 to 5 minutes. This process will infuse the sauce with a tangy lemon essence, preparing it to welcome the chicken.
Making Lemon Chicken
- Carefully add the fried chicken breasts to the pan, immersing them in the lemon garlic butter sauce. Coat each piece evenly, ensuring the flavors seep into every crevice.
- Allow the chicken to simmer in the sauce for 3 to 5 minutes. This crucial step lets the chicken absorb the sauce's myriad flavors, enhancing its taste and tenderness.
- To finish, sprinkle fresh parsley leaves over the chicken as a garnish, adding a burst of color and freshness. Once garnished, remove the pan from the heat. Your Lemon Chicken is now ready to delight the senses.
Serving
- Serve your Lemon Chicken hot, ideally paired with a side of your choice for a complete meal. For more pairing ideas, refer to the Serving Suggestions section.
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Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
Enhance your Lemon Chicken with these key tips, designed to perfect every aspect of the dish.
- Seasoning Flexibility: While the recipe uses a mix of fundamental spices and herbs, feel free to personalize it. Adjust the seasoning to match your flavor preferences, experimenting with different herbs or spice levels for a unique twist on both the flour coating and the sauce.
- Breading Options: This recipe offers a simpler, non-breaded version of Lemon Chicken. However, if time allows, consider using the breading technique from the Chicken Parmesan Recipe for added crunch and texture, elevating the dish to a more classic breading style.
- Achieving the Best Flavor: The secret to a rich and savory lemon butter sauce lies in using chicken bouillon. For a slightly different but equally delicious flavor, you can substitute with ½ cup of chicken broth, ensuring to leave out the water from the original recipe to balance the liquid content.
- Healthier Baked Variation: For a healthier alternative, bake the chicken breasts and then add them to the lemon garlic butter sauce prepared on a stovetop or in a skillet. This method offers a lighter version while retaining the delightful flavors and textures of the traditional dish.
- Marinate for Moisture: If time allows, marinate the chicken breasts in a simple mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of the seasoning for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This step helps in tenderizing the chicken and infusing it with more flavor.
- Even Cooking: To ensure the chicken cooks evenly, especially if you're not pounding it, let the chicken sit at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before cooking. This helps in even heat distribution during cooking.
- Sauce Consistency: If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can dissolve an additional teaspoon of cornstarch in a little water and stir it into the sauce as it cooks. For a thinner sauce, add a bit more broth or water.
- Lemon and Salt Balance: Be mindful of the lemon's acidity. Start with less lemon juice and adjust to taste. Too much acidity can overpower the other flavors. Additionally, when using salted butter in the Lemon Chicken recipe, exercise caution with additional salt. Taste the sauce before adding extra salt, as the butter may already provide sufficient seasoning.
- Resting the Chicken: After frying, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring the chicken remains juicy and tender.
Nutrition Info
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 895mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 594IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3mg
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
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Serving Suggestions
Elevate your Lemon Chicken experience with these perfect serving suggestions, tailored to complement its zesty flavors beautifully.
- Pasta Pairings: Serve with a side of light, buttery pasta like angel hair or spaghetti. The pasta complements the lemon sauce beautifully, creating a balanced meal.
- Rice Varieties: Lemon Chicken pairs wonderfully with fluffy white rice, jasmine rice, or even a lemon-infused rice pilaf for an extra citrusy touch.
- Vegetable Sides: Offer a healthy balance with steamed broccoli, asparagus, or a colorful medley of roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots.
- Salad Options: A crisp, green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette or a Caesar salad can add freshness and a crunchy texture to the meal.
- Bread Accompaniments: Serve with a side of crusty bread or garlic bread to soak up the delicious lemon butter sauce.
- Potato Dishes: Roasted or mashed potatoes make a hearty and comforting addition, especially if they're seasoned with herbs that echo the flavors in the chicken.
- Grain Alternatives: For a healthier twist, pair with quinoa or couscous, which are both light and absorb the sauce well.
Storage Suggestions
To keep your Lemon Chicken tasting fresh, store it in a sealed air-tight container in the refrigerator. It will stay good for up to 2 days. If you find the sauce thickens after cooling, don't worry - gently reheat the chicken with the sauce on the stovetop or in the microwave. This process will help the sauce return to its original, velvety consistency, ensuring your meal is just as delicious as when it was first made.
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