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

  • Jim C
    November 8, 2022

    Made this with oranges and it was very good as well. Served with rice and steamed spinach.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 8, 2022

      That sounds delicious! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  • kh
    November 6, 2022

    Was looking for a different chicken recipe after 37years of making chicken for hubby. This was phenomenal. I thought about leaving out the sauce, but it’s what makes it! I served with risotto.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 6, 2022

      YUM and we’re glad you enjoyed this recipe too!

      Reply

  • Kelley
    November 4, 2022

    I’m going to make this evening for my boyfriend. I was wondering if what you thoughts were on adding capers? Thank you. Can’t wait to make this, everything of yours I’ve made has been wonderful.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 4, 2022

      Hi Kelley! Thank you, I’m glad you love my recipes. I think the capers could work well. Let us know how it turns out if you experiment.

      Reply

  • Leslie
    November 3, 2022

    Not sure if this question went through, but is the parmesan fresh or from a can ,i.e. Kraft

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 3, 2022

      Hi Leslie, you can use either one. I love freshly grated parmesan.

      Reply

  • Kay Dyk
    November 3, 2022

    I made this tonight and my husband already has a request in for it again and again! It was absolutely delicious, many thanks 😋❤️

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 3, 2022

      Love it! Good to know that your husband loves this recipe, Kay.

      Reply

  • Marlous
    October 26, 2022

    Greetings from the Netherlands!

    I have some chicken breasts and a ton of lemons and garlic bulbs from the market, so I googled for a nice&easy recipe to use them in and stumbled upon yours. It looks very nice, but there’s just one thing that seems off so I thought I’d mention it:

    the Q&A part that addresses not breading the chicken says that you just then just slice and season… and then to move on to the part where you prepare the sauce. However, that skips the part where you actually -cook- the chicken! I don’t think that covering the meat with hot sauce will be enough to cook them… 😉

    Reply

  • Jessica
    October 23, 2022

    Made this last night for my family and it was super yummy! My 10 year old daughter is so picky and not only did she love it, but she asked me to make it again tonight for dinner! Thank you!;))

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 23, 2022

      Hi Jessica, I’m so happy to know that! Thank you for sharing and I hope your family will love all the recipes that you will try.

      Reply

  • Robin Charnell-Delgado
    October 21, 2022

    I loved the recipe, except…I have to reduce the sodium because of high blood pressure. So, I used NO sodium chicken broth and unsalted butter. I couldn’t get the parmesan to make a crust in my Allclad stainless without sticking to the pan. So, next time I will bake the chicken. I will thicken the Lemon Butter sauce to more like a reduction. Then just pour it over the baked chicken about 10 minutes before taking it out of the oven. Other than those changes, it was a HIT with my picky husband!!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 21, 2022

      So glad it was a hit! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Brittany C.
    October 19, 2022

    I was hesitant about making this because my husband doesn’t like things are super cheesy. I used a little less than the recipe called for. I also used chicken thighs and used fresh parsley in the lemon butter sauce. I didn’t use as much butter because I didn’t have another stick handy so I used half a stick. By far one of the best meals we’ve had. Definitely a favorite and will be making it again! PS: I used semolina flour instead of regular flour giving it a little more sweet and it had a brighter golden effect on the coloring.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      October 19, 2022

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Brittany!

      Reply

  • Ann
    October 9, 2022

    This is absolutely the best!
    So tasty and the sauce matched it perfectly
    As Natasha said I marinated the chicken in the egg mixture as I wanted to prep ahead and the chicken was just melt in the mouth
    Thanks for sharing This will become a regular at our house

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 10, 2022

      Thank you for the awesome feedback, Ann!

      Reply

  • Vicki Raffetto
    October 9, 2022

    This chicken was absolutely amazing. My husband couldn’t stop raving about it. He never eats white meat chicken so I’d say thats a compliment. I followed the recipe exactly but I did add a 1/4 cup of white wine (love my wine) to the butter/lemon mixture. Thanks for sharing this. A keeper for sure.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      October 9, 2022

      Hi Vicki, that made me smile! Thank you for sharing that with us, so glad your family loved this recipe!

      Reply

  • Penny Young
    October 8, 2022

    I’m making this tonight and am excited to try this beautiful dish! I will let you know how it comes out. Thank you for sharing this dish.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 8, 2022

      Hi Penny! I hope you love this dish. Looking forward to your feedback. 🙂

      Reply

  • Barbara Boucher
    September 28, 2022

    While perusing chicken recipes in Pinterest, I came across this one and had to try it immediately. At the first mouthful my husband remarked that the dish is delicious and restaurant quality. This meal will definitely join our collection of favorites. Also, the recipe is extremely flexible and able to adapt to special dietary needs or personal preference. For instance, I used to love garlic but have developed an intolerance to it, so I simply omitted that ingredient and we still loved it. It’s easy to adjust the amount of lemon to your taste. I would have no problem serving this dish to dinner guests.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 28, 2022

      Hello Barbara, thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback and review. We’re happy that you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

    • Merrillie Redden
      April 1, 2023

      Thanks Natasha and Barbara, I am keen to try this without garlic as well. In recent years, we have been finding garlic isn’t agreeing with us. I was thinking of adding more parsley to the lemon sauce or other options like chives, shallots, a touch of ginger, paprika or cumin.

      Reply

  • Terry
    September 27, 2022

    This is hands down my kids favorite meal. I was able to entice them home from college with this recipe for dinner!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 27, 2022

      That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Cyndi
    September 23, 2022

    Made this tonight it was yummy I used fresh Parmesan and thicken up the butter sauce left in the pan and poured it over the chicken

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 23, 2022

      So glad you loved it, Cyndi. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Janine Smith
    September 13, 2022

    My son cooked this for us for dinner tonight, and boy did I not only enjoy someone cooking for me…. But this was Delicious!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 13, 2022

      Happy to know that you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Frank
    September 12, 2022

    Made this last night and will absolutely make it many more times. Delicious.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 12, 2022

      Thank you for the good feedback and review!

      Reply

  • Pat
    September 5, 2022

    I loved this dish and my husband was licking the plate clean! I doubled the sauce mixture so that I could put the other half of the warm sauce in a little pour pitcher to add extra to the chicken as needed. My only struggle was that the cheese/flour coating kept sticking to my pan despite my adding extra oil. Any advice on best pan to use so that the nice cheese crust stays on the chicken?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 5, 2022

      Hi Pat! I’m glad the recipe was enjoyed. Click HERE to see my favorite cookware. A non-stick pan works best for this recipe.

      Reply

  • Patricia
    September 5, 2022

    Simply excellent. Many thanks. Entire family loved it, from ages 3 to 77. This preparation made everyone happy to be eating chicken. We will be adding this recipe to our regular rotation. Chicken was beautifully browned, and we did add that tiny bit of honey to the sauce for balance.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 5, 2022

      That’s great! So glad you found another family favorite. Thank you.

      Reply

  • Candace
    August 26, 2022

    The sauce was pretty good as directed but I added about about a teaspoon of honey to cut the sharpness of the lemon and it really rounded out the flavor for me personally.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 26, 2022

      Great feedback, Candace! Thank you for the review.

      Reply

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