Easy Lemon Butter Chicken with Green Beans
A quick and comforting weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken breasts in a bright lemon butter sauce paired with crisp green beans. Simple ingredients and easy steps make this a reliable and delicious meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 to 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse and trim the green beans by snapping off the ends. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning if using. Zest the lemon carefully, then juice it into a small bowl. Mince the garlic cloves finely.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the chicken breasts. Cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes on one side until golden brown. Flip and cook another 3-5 minutes on the other side until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F / 74°C). Remove chicken from pan and set aside on a plate, tented with foil to keep warm.
- Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the same pan and let it melt, swirling to coat the surface. Add minced garlic and stir quickly to soften but not burn—about 30 seconds. Toss in green beans and sauté for 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp, stirring often to prevent sticking.
- Pour lemon juice and lemon zest into the pan with green beans and garlic. Stir well to combine and let it simmer gently for a minute, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken slightly.
- Return chicken breasts to the pan, nestling them among the green beans. Spoon some sauce over the chicken. Let everything warm together for a minute or two, spooning sauce occasionally to keep chicken moist.
- Plate the chicken and green beans with a drizzle of the buttery lemon sauce. Add freshly cracked black pepper on top if desired.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure proper searing. Keep heat moderate when melting butter to avoid burning. Cook green beans until tender-crisp to maintain their snap. If chicken breasts are thick, pound to even thickness for even cooking. For dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil or coconut oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 38
Keywords: lemon butter chicken, green beans, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight meal, healthy chicken, lemon chicken, skillet chicken