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Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken

Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
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A quick and flavorful Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken recipe featuring juicy chicken breasts in a tangy lemon, fresh herb, and velvety cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish is a perfect easy weeknight meal that combines simple ingredients with rich, balanced flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • Juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped (or dill as an alternative)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry, then season them generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides to ensure flavor and help develop a golden crust when seared.
  2. Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  3. Make the Sauce Base: Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic to the same pan. Sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds, being careful not to brown it. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits for extra flavor.
  4. Add Cream, Lemon, and Herbs: Stir in the heavy cream, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add chopped fresh parsley and thyme. Simmer for a couple of minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly and develop its bright, creamy character.
  5. Return Chicken to Pan: Place the seared chicken back into the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes to meld flavors and warm the chicken through.
  6. Final Touches and Serve: Adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Garnish with fresh herbs before serving for added freshness and color.

Notes

  • Let chicken rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking.
  • Remove chicken just before fully cooked to prevent dryness; it will finish cooking in the sauce.
  • Use fresh herbs for brightness and best flavor; dried herbs will not provide the same effect.
  • Deglaze the pan thoroughly by scraping browned bits after searing to boost sauce depth.
  • Simmer the sauce longer for thicker consistency, or add a splash of broth to thin it if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, lemon chicken, creamy chicken sauce, gluten free chicken

Find it online: https://marygourmet.com/creamy-lemon-herb-chicken/