Print

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet
Print Recipe

This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet is a bright, buttery, and satisfying one-pan meal that combines tender chicken breasts, crisp green beans, and a flavorful garlic lemon butter sauce. Ready in about 30 minutes, it offers a perfect balance of protein and vegetables with fresh citrus notes, ideal for quick weeknight dinners that are both comforting and vibrant.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Vegetables

  • 1/2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

Liquids & Fats

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon

Seasonings

  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to ensure a nice sear and flavorful meat.
  2. Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Sauté the garlic and green beans: In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium and add the minced garlic. Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant, then add the trimmed green beans. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the beans are tender-crisp.
  4. Make the lemon butter sauce: Add butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the skillet with the green beans. Stir and let the butter melt completely, combining all the flavors beautifully in the pan.
  5. Combine and finish cooking: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the green beans and sauce. Let everything simmer together for 2 minutes, spooning the sauce over the chicken to keep it moist and flavorful.

Notes

  • Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness for uniform cooking and juicier meat.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook chicken in batches if needed to achieve a golden crust.
  • Use fresh lemon zest for the best aromatic flavor.
  • Blanch green beans in boiling water for 1-2 minutes before sautéing for extra crispness.
  • Adjust sauce consistency by simmering longer to reduce or adding chicken broth if too thick.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon garlic butter chicken, green beans skillet, one-pan dinner, quick chicken recipe, healthy chicken dinner, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/lemon-garlic-butter-chicken-and-green-beans-skillet/