Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.75 lbs / 800g)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4-5 cloves of garlic, finely minced
½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
1 large lemon (for both zest and juice)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pound the chicken breasts to an even ½-inch (1.5 cm) thickness. Pat them completely dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is foaming, place the seasoned chicken in the pan and cook for 4-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.
- Build the Sauce Base: Reduce the skillet heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour the chicken broth into the skillet, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it reduce for 2-3 minutes.
- Finish the Masterpiece: Stir in the fresh lemon juice and zest. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the sauce over them to coat.
- Garnish and Serve: Turn off the heat and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve immediately with extra pan sauce spooned over the top.
Notes
Pound the Chicken: Pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness is the most important step for ensuring they cook quickly and evenly without drying out.
Use Fresh Ingredients: The flavour of this simple dish relies on high-quality ingredients. Using fresh garlic and fresh lemon juice will provide a much more vibrant and aromatic sauce than powdered or bottled versions.
Don’t Burn the Garlic: Be very careful when sautéing the garlic in the butter. It only needs 30-60 seconds over a medium-low heat to become fragrant; if it burns, the entire sauce will taste bitter.
Make it Creamy: For a richer, more decadent sauce, stir in a splash of heavy cream along with the chicken broth and let it simmer to thicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Pan-Searing, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American, French-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 28g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Protein: 48g