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Juicy lemon garlic chicken breast with butter sauce and fresh parsley

Juicy Lemon Garlic Chicken Breast

Pan-seared chicken breast in a bright buttery lemon garlic sauce ready in 30 minutes and tastes like it came from a restaurant. The secret is pounding to even thickness and searing at high heat.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts about 8 oz each
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large lemon juiced and zested
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • fresh parsley for garnish
  • lemon slices for serving

Method
 

  1. Pound chicken breasts to an even 3/4 inch thickness. Season both sides with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and just beginning to smoke.
  3. Add chicken and cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes until deep golden. Flip and cook another 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to a plate.
  4. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic to the same pan. Cook 1 minute until fragrant. Add lemon juice and zest scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  5. Return chicken to the pan and spoon sauce over the top. Cook 1 to 2 more minutes until chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
  6. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 42gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 128mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 380mgSugar: 1g

Notes

Do not move the chicken while it sears — letting it cook undisturbed creates the golden crust that seals in the juices. Add a splash of heavy cream to the sauce for a richer version. Chicken thighs also work beautifully — cook 5 to 6 minutes per side.

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