Easy Lemon Butter Chicken with Green Beans
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring tender chicken breasts seared and served with crisp green beans in a bright, buttery lemon sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 medium chicken breasts (about 12 oz / 340 g), boneless, skinless
- 8 oz (225 g) fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons / 45 ml)
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth, low sodium preferred
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)
- Snap off the ends of the green beans and rinse them under cold water. Set aside. (5 minutes)
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Heat until the oil shimmers but does not smoke. (2 minutes)
- Add the chicken breasts and cook without moving for about 5-6 minutes until golden brown on one side. Flip and cook another 5 minutes until golden and cooked through. (10-12 minutes total)
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil to rest. (2 minutes)
- Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and melt. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any brown bits from the pan. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. (5 minutes)
- Add the trimmed green beans to the skillet, toss in the sauce, and cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender. (5 minutes)
- Return the chicken to the skillet nestling it among the green beans. Spoon sauce over the top and warm through for 2-3 minutes.
- Optional: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over everything and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan when searing chicken to ensure a golden crust. Use unsalted butter to control salt levels. Add garlic carefully to avoid burning. Toss green beans in sauce last to keep them crisp. If sauce separates, add a splash of chicken broth or a small pat of butter and whisk gently. Rest chicken before slicing to keep it juicy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: lemon butter chicken, green beans, easy dinner, weeknight meal, quick chicken recipe, healthy chicken, one pan dinner