Description
This One-Pan Lemon Basil Chicken recipe offers a quick and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken breasts are coated in a lemony herb flour mixture, pan-seared to golden perfection, and then finished in a fragrant garlic butter sauce infused with fresh lemon juice and basil. Served with a burst of fresh basil and lemon slices, it’s a simple yet elegant dish that comes together in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 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
Cooking and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 5 leaves fresh basil, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large dish, mix together the all-purpose flour, lemon zest, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and ground black pepper. Coat each chicken breast piece evenly in the flour mixture, then shake off any excess to ensure a light coating that will crisp up when cooked.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the coated chicken breasts and cook for about 10 minutes total, flipping once halfway through. Cook until both sides are nicely browned and the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside to rest.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the butter and minced garlic. Melt the butter and sauté the garlic gently until it becomes fragrant but not browned. Stir in the lemon juice from the reserved 1/2 lemon and chicken broth, scraping the skillet bottom to release any browned bits. Let the sauce simmer briefly until it thickens slightly.
- Finish the Dish: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, warming them through in the sauce for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh sliced basil and additional lemon slices before serving.
Notes
- For best results, slice the chicken breasts evenly to ensure they cook quickly and uniformly.
- You can substitute fresh thyme and oregano if available, using about 1 tablespoon each.
- Serve this dish alongside steamed vegetables or a simple green salad for a complete meal.
- Make sure not to burn the garlic when sautéing as it can turn bitter.
- Leftover sauce can be spooned over rice or pasta for added flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
