Description

This One-Pan Lemon Basil Chicken recipe is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a zesty lemon and herb-infused flour mixture, pan-seared to golden perfection, and finished in a buttery garlic lemon sauce with fresh basil. Ideal for a simple weeknight dinner, it combines bright citrus notes with aromatic herbs for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Chicken:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Zest and juice from 1/2 lemon, divided, plus extra lemon slices for serving
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound chicken breasts, sliced in half lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil

For the Sauce:

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
5 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: In a large dish, combine the flour, lemon zest, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and ground black pepper. Evenly coat each chicken piece in this flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour to ensure a light, even coating.
Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the coated chicken breasts and cook them for about 10 minutes in total, flipping once until both sides are nicely browned and the chicken is cooked through. Then, transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the butter and minced garlic. Allow the butter to melt and gently sauté the garlic until fragrant. Then, stir in the lemon juice and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan to incorporate their flavor. Let the sauce simmer briefly until it thickens slightly.
Finish the Dish: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and warm them through in the sauce for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and top with freshly sliced basil leaves and extra lemon slices for garnish before serving.

Notes

For juicier chicken, let the meat rest for a few minutes after cooking before serving.
Use fresh basil for the best flavor; dried basil won’t provide the same bright taste.
Serve with a side of steamed vegetables or over rice to complete the meal.
This recipe can be adapted for gluten-free diets by substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free alternative.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 320
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 690mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 7g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 95mg