Chicken in a Lemon Butter Sauce made with boneless chicken breasts sautéed; then topped with a lemon butter sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or large get togethers.
How many of you are over 40? Well if you're not there yet, let me tell you that once you pass that milestone the brain goes. I don't know where it goes, but information is cycled in and out on a daily basis and you only get to keep what's happening in the near future in the forefront.
That is until you wake up in the middle of the night remembering something that was funneled in at one point and you forgot all about it. Now, these can be REALLY important things or things that in the grand scheme of things aren't as important but they matter nonetheless.
Which brings me to today's post. About 2 weeks ago, I woke up and remembered that my Aunt Renee had asked me if I had a Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce recipe.
At the time, all I had was a Chicken Francaise recipe (which is in the cookbook), but she said that wasn't it as it wasn't battered in egg. So I told her I'd make it soon and gone it went into the abyss!
It's generally hard for me to make something that I haven't tasted before myself, but this one seemed easy enough. Well, at least I hope it's the same thing she was thinking of.
So I made this Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce in honor of my aunt and I hope she likes it. Since she lives in Michigan and I'm in New Jersey, it's not like I can have her try it out with me there.
How do you make Chicken with a lemon butter sauce?
To make this recipe you'll need boneless chicken breasts, flour, oil, butter, garlic, chicken broth, lemons, chives and thyme.
Start by slicing the chicken horizontally into three or four thinner pieces, then pound flat using a meat mallet. Dredge the chicken into the flour until all pieces have been coated.
Next, heat the oil and butter in a large non-stick saute pan, then add the chicken. Allow to brown and cook through on each side; approximately 3-5 minutes per side depending on their thickness.
Once done, place in an oven safe dish until all of the pieces have been cooked.While the chicken is cooking, make the lemon butter sauce.
First, melt butter in a medium saucepan and add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute, then whisk in the flour forming a roux.
How do you make the Lemon Butter Sauce?
Gradually add the chicken broth, whisking as you're pouring so as not to form lumps. Next, add in the lemon zest and juice, chives, and thyme. Bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
Top the chicken with the sauce, then bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Seriously, this is one of the best lemon sauces for chicken I've ever tasted! Since posting recipe my aunt tried it and said it was spot on! In fact, she has made this recipe over and over again since its first posting.
reviews
- "Wow!! Made this tonight for dinner, and it was delish!! I love lemon chicken, but most recipes are too lemony or too thick or too something. Carrie, this was perfect! Thanks so much for sharing and taking time out of your day to write a blog. I appreciate you!"
- I have made this a few times now…rarely do I comment on recipes (even the really good ones), but this recipe is fabulous! Super simple, a person doesn’t need to go buy a tons of ingredients as a lot of the items can be found in a typical kitchen, and it is amazingly delicious. Thanks for food blogging for the benefit of the rest of us ;)."
- "I make lemon chicken all the time, many different ways. This is my all time favorite recipe!!! So flavorful! I added fresh broccoli and cauliflower to the pan with the chicken, then poured on the sauce and baked. SO GOOD!"
- "I made this dish in a mad rush as my husband and son had limited time before heading out the door. I love that the ingredients aren’t complicated and neither is the technique. Because of it’s simplicity and my haste, I really didn’t have high hopes that I’d be wowed. I ended up having seconds. I never have seconds. And I had the left overs for lunch the next day. I’ll be making this again soon for sure. Thank you for sharing such a tasty, easy recipe."
Visit the recipe index to search for more recipes by category.
More Lemon Chicken Recipes
- Chicken Costoletta (The Cheesecake Factory Copycat)
- Chicken Francaise
- Lemon Chicken Broccoli Spaghetti Squash
- Skillet Lemon Chicken
- Gluten Free Lemon Chicken Spinach Pasta
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Chicken in a Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients
For the Chicken in a Lemon Butter Sauce
- 24 ounces boneless chicken breasts
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tabespons butter
- prepared lemon butter sauce
For the Lemon Butter Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 1 tablespoon chives
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
For the Chicken
- Slice chicken horizontally into three or four thinner pieces, then pound flat using a meat mallet. (You can also use 2-3 ounce chicken tenderloins).
- Dredge the chicken into the flour and lay them on a plate until all pieces have been coated.
- Heat oil and butter in a large non-stkck skillet over medium high heat; then add the chicken. Allow the chicken to brown and cook through on each side; approximately 3-5 minutes per side depending on their thickness. Once done, place in an oven safe casserole dish until all of the pieces have been cooked.
- Top with the prepared lemon butter sauce; then bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes. Serves 6 (approximately 12-14 pieces of chicken)
For the Lemon Butter Sauce
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the garlic. Saute for 30 seconds; then whisk in the flour forming a roux.
- Gradually add the chicken broth, whisking as you are pouring so as not to form lumps.
- Next, add the lemon zest and juice, chives, and thyme. Bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
tina says
can i use fresh chives instead of dried?
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Yes you can
Quyen Skinner says
Hello! Do I cover the chicken while coming in the oven?
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
You don't have to, but it's fine if you do.
Rosemary says
Most of the time the chicken breast that I can find are not thick enough to slice into 3 slices, but sometimes huge chicken breasts appear that can be sliced into 3 slices. My question is simple, about how thick are the slices as some of the market have pre sliced pieces? Cutlets are too thin I’m sure. Thanks and this will be a grandma & grandson cooking project for sure.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Actually the thin sliced cutlets would work perfectly! I've also used chicken tenderloins and pounded them so that the pieces are uniform in size. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Stacimarie says
Sooo good!!! Definitely a great recipe.
A very balanced taste.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I'm so glad you liked the recipe!
Karen L Meyers says
Thank you so much for your quick reply! I look forward to trying your recipes.
k
Karen L Meyers says
Hi Carrie,
I just found this recipe in my search for an easy, tasty lemon sauce for some leftover chicken and will try today.
I have a question that I didn't see above in the comments..... have you ever tried using some dry white wine (or maybe dry sherry) for part of the chicken broth?
Thanks so much for your website and this recipe.
Karen
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
You can certainly use a combination of white wine and chicken broth; which I do for my Chicken Francaise recipe. I made this recipe without the alcohol as some people don't like it, but I'm sure it would taste amazing! Enjoy!
Kristin says
I made this dish in a mad rush as my husband and son had limited time before heading out the door. I love that the ingredients aren't complicated and neither is the technique. Because of it's simplicity and my haste, I really didn't have high hopes that I'd be wowed. I ended up having seconds. I never have seconds. And I had the left overs for lunch the next day. I'll be making this again soon for sure. Thank you for sharing such a tasty, easy recipe.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Thank you so much for your kind words Kristin! I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed it and it's one of my favorites as well. I'm a firm believer that dinner should be made with as little ingredients and as simple as possible. Thanks for trying the recipe. 🙂