This parmesan-crusted Lemon Chicken Recipe is so EASY to make and completely ready in 30 minutes! The quick garlic and lemon butter sauce enhances the flavor of the chicken and adds so much flavor to the dish!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
I’m convinced you’ll love my Lemon Chicken with the best Lemon Butter Sauce.
Lemon Chicken Recipe:
This dish is going to become a favorite chicken dinner recipe for BUSY evenings. The chicken breast is generously coated in parmesan and pan-fried to give it a crispy crust. The chicken is then smothered in a lemon butter sauce with garlic that adds so much flavor to the chicken.
We love easy 30-minute chicken recipes for busy weeknights and some of our go-to’s include Chicken Marsala, classic Chicken Parmesan and of course this easy lemon garlic chicken. With these recipes in your arsenal, you can make restaurant-quality meals for a fraction of the price of eating out.
How to Make Lemon Chicken:
With just a few simple ingredients a few minutes of prep time, you can have yourself the most DELICIOUS crispy chicken breast in a buttery garlic lemon sauce!
- Cut chicken in half lengthwise and beat with a meat mallet to an even thickness.
- Prepare Egg Mixture – whisk together eggs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Prepare Parmesan Mixture – in a separate bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese and flour.
- Dredge the Chicken – coat in the egg mixture, then generously coat in parmesan mixture, shaking off excess.
- Cook Chicken. Add oil to a hot skillet then add breaded chicken and cook 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and the internal temperature reads 165˚F with an Instant Read Thermometer.
Cook’s Tip – If the chicken crust begins to brown too quickly, reduce heat allowing the chicken to fully cook through.
How to Make Lemon Butter Sauce:
This 5-minute EASY lemon butter sauce will become a staple in your home. The sauce is tangy from the fresh lemon and butter and the garlic just brings all the flavors together – SO GOOD!
For a quicker dinner, prepare the lemon sauce in a separate saucepan or skillet while the chicken is cooking. Then just pour the sauce over the chicken once it is cooked. Or, you can just cook the chicken, remove it from the skillet (cover to keep warm) and prepare the sauce in the same skillet, then add the chicken back.
- Saute the garlic and butter until fragrant.
- Whisk in the lemon juice, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Allow the sauce to cook over med heat for about 2 minutes.
NOTE: We love the fresh and tangy lemon flavor in this recipe. If you prefer a less lemony flavor, reduce the lemon juice.
Can I make this Ahead?
If you like to prep dinner in advance, slice the chicken and add it to the egg mixture, cover and refrigerate until you are ready for dinner. Allowing the chicken to marinate will result in a juicier and more tender chicken breast. Then, just continue with the remaining recipe instructions.
Can I make the Lemon Chicken without Parmesan Crust?
Yes! For a healthier option, completely omit the egg mixture and parmesan mixture. Slice the chicken breast and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then, continue with the preparation of the sauce.
Substituting for Chicken Thighs?
This lemon chicken will work with chicken breast, chicken thighs, and even chicken tenderloins. You will want to prepare the recipe according to the instructions, the only difference will be in the cooking time. The cook time will depend on the size of the thighs, you want the internal temperature to reach 165F on an instant-read thermometer.
Adding Vegetables to the Chicken in Skillet:
Yes, you may definitely add vegetables to complete the dish. Asparagus, green beans, and zucchini will all go great with the lemon sauce and compliment the chicken
I can’t wait for you to give this simple chicken dinner recipe a try!
What to Serve with Lemon Chicken?
The EASY chicken dish is completely ready in just 30 minutes and can be served with our Mashed Potatoes or your favorite pasta and it pairs well with Caesar Salad.
More Chicken Recipes to Try:
- Chicken Cobb Salad – so easy with rotisserie chicken
- Spatchcock Chicken – one-pan baked chicken dinner
- Chicken Fried Rice – a great way to use leftovers
- Chicken Carbonara- Olive Garden copycat recipe.
- Tender Chicken Thighs- Easiest and juiciest baked tender thighs.
Lemon Chicken with BEST Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients
Ingredients for Parmesan Crusted Chicken:
- 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, (2 large), patted dry with paper towels
- 1 Tbsp olive oil , to sautee
- 1 Tbsp parsley, to garnish (optional)
- 1/2 lemon, sliced for garnish (optional)
For the Egg Mixture:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
For the Parmesan Breading Mixture:
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
Ingredients for Lemon Butter Sauce:
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Lightly beat with a meat mallet until even in thickness.
- In a bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the egg mixture. In another bowl, combine the ingredients for the parmesan mixture. Dip chicken into the egg mixture, then dredge chicken in the parmesan mixture. Allow any excess ingredients to fall off from each bowl.
- In a large skillet, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of a skillet. Once hot, add the chicken and cook 4-5 minutes per side, or until crispy, golden and cooked through to 165˚F on an Instant Read Thermometer. Reduce the heat if chicken browns too quickly.
- Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, melt butter and garlic, cook until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice and pepper. Allow the sauce to cook for about 2 minutes. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken, turning to coat. Garnish with lemon slices and finely chopped parsley if desired.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Easy to prepare and cook. It was delicious! Will be making this again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Can I make the butter sauce creamy I want to serve it with a pasta
Hello Dorothy! Yes you can make it creamy if you want to serve it with pasta. You can add heavy cream, parmesan cheese and broth if you want a slighltly lighter sauce.
Can this be baked in the oven?
If so, would you add the lemon sauce before or after the chicken is cooked?
Yes you can bake the chicken in the oven for the Lemon Chicken recipe. You can add the lemon sauce before or after baking but if you want a fresher, more vibrant lemon flavor, I would recommend baking the chicken first, then adding the sauce afterward.
It was user friendly but my sauce turned bright blue! After a panic it seems as though it is common with garlic and lemon but wow, I was not expecting it. All fresh ingredients and even my chef husband had never seen it before!
Hi Sarah, it is a common thing – this is why I sautee the garlic first for a bit. If you add the lemon juice to fresh garlic, it can discolor. I’ve seen this in my mom’s sauerkraut many times. It doesn’t change the flavor, but looks a little strange.
I loved the taste of it. I made with out egg and parmesan even than it taste so good
This is one of my favorite recipes. So delicious and easy to make! I served it with mashed potatoes, a spinach salad and a glass of Chardonnay.
OMG I JUST made this is and is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!! I was craving something VERY lemony so I added the zest of one lemon in addition. I also used a gluten free flour. Added one tablespoon cold butter to sauce after removing from heat. Served fresh sautéed spinach after removing chicken from pan. So DELICIOUS, thank you so much!!! Wished I could send you a photo!!! It’s as beautiful as it tastes!!!!
Thank you for sharing! I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
Oh and I added a few pinches of flour to thicken the sauce up and I came out perfect
Came out delicious I made a few changes… cut the recipe for the sauce in half because I thought it would make more than needed and I was right halving that recipe yielded the perfect amount of sauce. I also found the sauce to not be rich enough so I added a few splashes of heavy cream and a few Tablespoons of the juice from the cooked chicken and it made the sauce 10x better!!!
Easy to follow, delicious recipe and always a crowd pleaser.
This is one of the best chicken recipes ever. Not sure what I was expecting but it ended up so much better. Your first reaction will be “holy sh$t this is lemony”. Then your plate will be wiped clean. Love your book also. TY.
This quickly became a staple in my house! My family always gets excited when I say this is what’s for dinner. With the price of eggs lately, we haven’t been having it as often. Do you have a suggestion for a substitute?
Hi Nikalette, I did some research for you and learned you can use melted butter to dip the chicken into, or mix equal parts of cornstarch and water to make a slurry and dip the chicken into that before putting it into the bread crumbs. Let me know how it goes!
I want to make this and need pan/cookware recommend for this please🩷
Hi Nenita! You can use a saucepan or skillet. Please visit my amazon affiliate shop for my favorites which are linked in the cookware category. At the top of this page, select “shop” from the menu drop down.