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!

Homemade lemon chicken recipe in a skillet topped with a lemon butter sauce and fresh lemon slices then garnished with herbs.

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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.

Parmesan crusted chicken breast on a bed of mashed potatoes and zucchini in a lemon butter sauce topped with greens.

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!

  1. Cut chicken in half lengthwise and beat with a meat mallet to an even thickness.
  2. Prepare Egg Mixture – whisk together eggs, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. Prepare Parmesan Mixture – in a separate bowl, mix together the parmesan cheese and flour.
  4. Dredge the Chicken – coat in the egg mixture, then generously coat in parmesan mixture, shaking off excess.
  5. 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.

Step-by-step collage instructions how to make lemon chicken with lemon butter sauce.

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.

  1. Saute the garlic and butter until fragrant.
  2. 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.

Parmesan crusted chicken with a lemon butter sauce in a skillet topped lemon slices.

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

Easy 30-minute Chicken Lemon on a plate with mashed potatoes and zucchini topped with lemon butter.

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:

Lemon Chicken with BEST Lemon Butter Sauce

4.98 from 1513 votes
Lemon chicken in lemon butter sauce in skillet garnished with lemon slices
This parmesan-crusted Lemon Chicken Recipe is easy and done in 30 minutes! The quick lemon butter sauce pairs so well with the chicken.
Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 people

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:

For the Parmesan Breading Mixture:

Ingredients for Lemon Butter Sauce:

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 non-stick 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

560kcal Calories9g Carbs46g Protein38g Fat20g Saturated Fat273mg Cholesterol1109mg Sodium738mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar1105IU Vitamin A17mg Vitamin C322mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Lemon Chicken with BEST Lemon Butter Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
560
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
38
g
58
%
Saturated Fat
 
20
g
125
%
Cholesterol
 
273
mg
91
%
Sodium
 
1109
mg
48
%
Potassium
 
738
mg
21
%
Carbohydrates
 
9
g
3
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
46
g
92
%
Vitamin A
 
1105
IU
22
%
Vitamin C
 
17
mg
21
%
Calcium
 
322
mg
32
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: lemon chicken
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 560
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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4.98 from 1513 votes (1,067 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Cheryl Dow
    August 25, 2022

    Love this recipe,my husband loves anything lemon and this was a hit . I added a little parmesan to the top of the chicken,and served it with mashed potatoes and asparagus! Delicious!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 25, 2022

      Happy to hear that the recipe was a huge hit!

      Reply

  • Dana DeMille
    August 17, 2022

    My husband and I went gaga over this recipe!! So delicious… Served over mashed potatoes, and happened to have some broccoli on hand as our veggie. The only thing I did differently was add some honey to the lemon sauce along with lemon zest as it was cooking to give it that sweet and savory balance we love so much. Thank you for another hit, you haven’t failed me once 😊

    Reply

    • Dana DeMille
      August 17, 2022

      Oh I almost forgot, I also added a little bit of cornstarch to thicken it up a bit.

      Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 17, 2022

      Thanks for sharing, Dana! That sounds like a good addition to the recipe!

      Reply

  • Bex Newton
    August 10, 2022

    This chicken is delicious! Was a hit with the family and even had a request for the recipe. Will definitely be making this again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 10, 2022

      Happy to hear that your family enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • Kimberly
    August 3, 2022

    I thought this was great! This is very lemony. So lemony that I did not garnish with fresh lemon. The only thing I did different was not use chicken broth in the sauce. I mixed lemon juice w garlic and pepper. When chicken was finished cooking, I poured the sauce on it. ( I figured if I used the chicken broth, the chicken may be soggy with all the liquid being used. This was great I will prepare and serve it again

    Reply

    • Scott Ranallli
      August 8, 2022

      Once the chicken is cooked, it won’t get “soggy” from more sauce. The broth is there to temper the sourness of the lemon juice. The overall sauce volume would leave you enough to flavor some accompanying rice or pasta!

      Reply

      • Scott Ranallli
        August 8, 2022

        P.S. It was so ‘lemony’ BECAUSE you left off the broth…

        Reply

  • Marilyn
    August 1, 2022

    This was absolutely delicious!!! I did have to add more flour and Parmesan cheese, but maybe that’s just my preference. Will be making this again very soon

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 1, 2022

      Thank you for the feedback, Marilyn! 🙂

      Reply

  • Alice
    July 30, 2022

    Can this be baked instead? I’m entertaining and it would make it easier

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 30, 2022

      Hi Alice, I hope you find this helpful. Here’s what one of our readers said about baking it in an oven: “It worked in the oven! I used 1 cup of panko bread crumbs and 1 cup of parmesan cheese instead of the flour/parmesan mix, used cooking spray in my pan, and baked at 375 for 30-35 minutes. My family wanted it crispier, so next time I’ll broil for a few more minutes at the end.”

      Reply

  • Joann Nalewanski
    July 30, 2022

    We love this recipe! Have made it several times. On occasion we have doubled the lemon butter sauce and served it over angel hair pasta, adding a little pasta water for volume. It holds a very special place in my heart. I contracted COVID earlier this year (after being vaccinated and boosted) and lost my sense of taste and smell for 4 months. One night I made this incredible dish and my sense of taste returned! Thank you Natasha in more ways than one. ♥️

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 30, 2022

      So glad to hear that, Joann! Thank you for the wonderful review.

      Reply

  • Joan
    July 28, 2022

    Quick wast delicious! The only change..served over pasta instead of mashed potatoes. Huge hit with the fam!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 28, 2022

      That’s a good combo too, delicious and so filling. I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • Cathy
    July 26, 2022

    Could this be made with gluten free flour for the breading? Need to find some new options.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 26, 2022

      Hi Cathy! I have not tested it but one of my readers commented that it worked with gluten-free flour.

      Reply

  • Kim Melson
    July 23, 2022

    I have made this many many times and it is absolutely delicious!!! A family favorite for sure!! normally I am always on the grill during the summer but tonight decided on Lemon chicken served with rice pilaf and asparagus- yum yum and yum!! Thanks Natasha!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 23, 2022

      That’s wonderful, Kim! So glad you enjoy this recipe. Sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Jay
    July 23, 2022

    This worked out great. Super easy. I added shallots which went really well with everything

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 23, 2022

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jay!

      Reply

  • Mike
    July 11, 2022

    I wanted to say thank you for not writing your life story in this recipe. I use a lot of recipes online and there is nothing more annoying than having to read a novel of someone’s life story before it even starts talking about the recipe. To get to ingredients and steps I have to scroll down for a good minute or 2. Thank you for the amazing recipe! This is my go to when I make the zucchini pasta recipe from Bon Appetit. It’s as if your lemon chicken recipe and that zucchini recipe were made for each other.

    Thank you,

    Mike C

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 11, 2022

      Hi Mike! I’m so glad you enjoy this recipe. Thank you for the wonderful review.

      Reply

    • Cyndi
      July 18, 2022

      Hey Mike,
      I recently learned a main reason why recipe sites include so much backstory for their recipes. It has to do with Search Engine Optimization. More text like that makes the search engine place it higher in a results listing. #TheMoreYouKnow

      Reply

  • Stacy
    July 10, 2022

    I substituted the all purpose flour for almond flour but holy moly this was so good!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 11, 2022

      That’s great, Stacy! Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Mimi
    July 10, 2022

    Can this be made ahead and frozen? Freezing the sauce separately, of course. Looking for a chicken dish I can make, freeze, transport to a gathering and then reheat.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 11, 2022

      Hi Mimi, I’m sorry, I haven’t tried freezing this before to advise. If you experiment, please let me know your results.

      Reply

  • Michelle
    July 7, 2022

    Wow…one of the best recipes I’ve ever made, my husband LOVED it! Definitely a keeper!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 7, 2022

      That’s wonderful! We love this dish. I’m glad to hear it was a hit.

      Reply

  • Kat
    July 5, 2022

    We really enjoyed this! I followed the recipe exactly. My son with a very sophisticated pallet (read: only likes the best food!) loved it. I will be making this many times, I’m sure!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 5, 2022

      Hi Kat, thanks for the good comments and feedback. Good to know that you both love this recipe!

      Reply

  • Deb C
    July 5, 2022

    Hi Natasha,
    I am going to try this recipe tonight, I am by myself and find it very easy to make less with your recipes, wonder now what would you serve with this recipe? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 5, 2022

      Hi Deb! We have a section on that in the recipe. Please see the “What to Serve with Lemon Chicken?” section! We include links to our mashed potato & caesar salad, for example.

      Reply

  • Brittiany
    June 28, 2022

    I made this recipe to the T and it came out perfect. Second time around I read some reviews and added panko breadcrumbs. What a horrible mistake. The butter sauce didn’t kiss the chicken like it did the first time, it soaked it up making for a very soggy piece of chicken. Flavor was amazing, but not as good the first time.
    Lesson learned, follow Natasha’s recipes because they work as is.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 28, 2022

      Thank you for your wonderful review, Brittiany! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Ellen
    June 26, 2022

    Love it!!!! Just added lemon zest. My whole family thought it was the bomb!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      June 26, 2022

      That’s awesome, Ellen. Good to hear that the recipe was a huge hit!

      Reply

  • Shanda
    June 25, 2022

    I made this dish it’s a good recipe it’s fast easy. I would use less lemon juice next time

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      June 25, 2022

      Thank you for the review, Shanda!

      Reply

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