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

  • Kate
    May 25, 2023

    Excellent chicken! All I had was cake flour, and grated fresh Parmesan combined for an incredibly light, crisp, delicate crust. I used a cup of stock and more lemon juice, and added dried parsley (fresh would have been better but I was out) and sea salt to brighten the taste. I could have used half or a quarter of the butter and it would have been delicious. I wouldn’t call this a 30-minute dinner but it was so good, I’ll reserve it for special occasions!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 25, 2023

      Hi Kate! Thank you for the wonderful feedback. I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply

  • Thomas W
    May 14, 2023

    Very tasty and easy. The second time I made it, I put the sauce in a blender and added a raw egg yolk which emulsified it nicely. It still hasn’t separated after two days (I made a double portion with two egg yolks as the sauce is also great with asparagus).

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 14, 2023

      Thank you for sharing that with us, Thomas. Good to know that you liked this recipe!

      Reply

    • Mary Forwerck
      May 18, 2023

      when did you put the sauce in a blender? after you cooked it or ??? thanks!

      Reply

    • MaryB
      June 1, 2023

      Absolutely Delicious, my husband loved it and said to write it on the board so I could make it again. Though it did take me more than 30 minutes to make, perhaps I’ll be quicker in the future?

      Reply

  • Gail E Kienle
    May 11, 2023

    I wish I could give this more than 5 stars. It was absolutely delicous. After heating up my stainless steel skillet, I lowered the heat to keep the cheese from browning too fast. Consequently the chicken was a beautiful golden color and done perfedtly. I added the butter to the skillet and some flour before adding the lemon juice and chicken broth as I wanted more sauce. It was just perfect. Now in my favorites. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      May 11, 2023

      Wow, thank you for your wonderful comments. We appreciate it and we’re so glad that you loved this recipe!

      Reply

  • ezradallas
    May 5, 2023

    Made this tonight, chicken was great, but sauce was very thin and tasteless. I cook all the time and I do not think it was a user mistake. But I do see that everyone LOVES it. What could have gone wrong?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      May 5, 2023

      Hi, did you use regular lemons or Meyer lemons? Meyer lemons are milder. Also, I suggest not cooking the sauce for too long which can change the flavor and punch of the lemon. Lastly, make sure to use the same amount of lemon juice that is called for which adds vibrant lemony flavor.

      Reply

    • TJ McKinnon
      May 10, 2023

      I’m happy you made this comment. I saw the sauce and thought it might be on the bland, thin side so I added a little bit of msg, some lemon and herb seasoning, a pinch of salt and a tsp of cornstarch. Magnifique. Really appreciated the seasoned egg wash. Dunno why I never thought of that before. It was really good!

      Reply

  • Leslie
    May 1, 2023

    Help!!! I think my chicken was too thick. About how thick/thin should the “cutlets” be? Otherwise, delicious sauce!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      May 1, 2023

      Hi Leslie! I didn’t measure them to be exact, this can change depending on the chicken breast size. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise and then beat them with a meat mallet until even in thickness, probably 1/4-1/2 inch.

      Reply

  • Kristin Elouadrhiri
    April 23, 2023

    This recipe was absolutely delicious. I will definitely make it again! So easy and so good!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 23, 2023

      Thank you for your review, Kristin. Great to hear that you loved this recipe!

      Reply

  • Karuna Narang
    April 21, 2023

    Omg, just made and ate this and it’s delicious! The sauce is amazing! We pounded out the chicken to be thin but noticed it plumped up a lot during cooking. Any tricks to keep it thin?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 22, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Karuna! It will plump up a bit, but I recommend pounding it down a bit more and getting it as even as you can.

      Reply

  • Ohio
    April 19, 2023

    I’m confused is this a recipe of Natasha or Valentina. Regardless it is very good. Thank you for it.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 19, 2023

      Hi Ohio! Every now and then we will have a guest recipe post. This is Valentina’s recipe. 🙂

      Reply

  • Denise
    April 14, 2023

    Wow! Such an easy recipe with wonderful flavor! We loved it so much we made it twice this week! Yum, Yum!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 14, 2023

      I’m so glad you liked it! It’s quite a treat, we love this dish. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

      Reply

  • Katie
    April 3, 2023

    The family thought this was the best chicken they’d ever eaten! So delicious and chocked full of flavor. The lemon and garlic are not overpowering. Simple enough to ask the kids to help make. Love love love this recipe!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 3, 2023

      Wonderful! It’s always great to have the kids cook with us, it’s also a good bonding experience with them.

      Reply

      • Gina
        April 29, 2023

        Do you think I could bake this in oven instead of fr ying? Sounds delicious!

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          April 29, 2023

          Hi Gina! I haven’t tested that but if you experiment, please let us know how they turn out.

          Reply

  • Leslie
    April 1, 2023

    Quick question… is the nutritional information based on the entire recipe or do the numbers mean per serving for the Lemon Chicken recipe? Thanks!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 1, 2023

      Hi Leslie! This recipe serves 4 and the nutrition facts listed are per one serving. 🙂

      Reply

  • Roslyn Nord
    March 29, 2023

    Another wonderful yummy recipe of yours that my family loved. I really do enjoy watching your videos.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 29, 2023

      Thank you so much! I’m glad you are enjoying them.

      Reply

  • Emily K
    March 19, 2023

    Made this tonight for dinner. Added squash and served over pasta. My husband said it was delicious, so I will be making this again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 19, 2023

      Thank you for sharing, Emily. Great to hear that you both loved it!

      Reply

  • Jeremy
    March 17, 2023

    Made this for our family tonight and everyone loved it! I’m not much of a cook but since my wife had our twins I had to step up my game and Natasha’s recipes are always easy to follow and turn out great!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 17, 2023

      Congratulations on your twins, Jeremy! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit!

      Reply

  • Irene
    March 13, 2023

    Omg, I made this recipe with vegan butter, gluten free flour, and pecorino Romano cheese, this hands down, is the best chicken I’ve ever made. This is a 5 star plus for me, thank you for posting this recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 13, 2023

      Hello Irene, thank you so much for your awesome comments and feedback. We appreciate it and we’re glad that you love this recipe a lot!

      Reply

      • Pat Mueller
        March 20, 2023

        Hi i made this tonight and it was so awesome and had so much flavor , i will for sure make this again and again !!!!!!!!!!!! thank you

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          March 21, 2023

          Great to hear that you enjoyed it a lot!

          Reply

  • TWynnB
    March 11, 2023

    This was amaaaaaazing, will definitely make again. My only change was to make the sauce in the pan I made the chicken in to have the drippings too. Delicious and restaurant worthy!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 11, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Lorettamorrill
    March 7, 2023

    I wish I took a pic of this amazing dish it was so so perfect we loved it! I love the reruns of everybody loves Raymond and the lemon chicken story and now I now why it really is this amazing! Thank you

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 7, 2023

      I’m so glad you loved it! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂

      Reply

    • Tara
      March 19, 2023

      I’ll be trying this recipe tomorrow, but had to say lemon chicken always makes me think of Everybody Loves Raymond. 🙂

      Reply

      • Nanette
        May 14, 2023

        So funny! I am watching Everybody Loves Raymond now and she was serving lemon chicken! (Which made me look for a recipe. Sounds like I clicked on a good one)

        Reply

  • Thelma Martin
    March 5, 2023

    I made this tonight and we loved it! I only had 3 chicken breasts so I decreased the Parmesan cheese to 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons of flour. I had just enough. Thank you for a delicious chicken recipe.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 5, 2023

      You’re very welcome, Thelma! I’m glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Jackie
    March 2, 2023

    Love this recipe. Worthy of company for sure. I too, prefer a thicker sauce but the flavor is fantastic. An easy fix to a fab dish!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 2, 2023

      Thank you for sharing, Jackie!

      Reply

  • Suzanne Henning
    March 1, 2023

    My husband does most of the cooking. I find the recipes. This was a great success. We’ve made quite a few of your recipes and have never been disappointed Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 1, 2023

      Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Suzanne!

      Reply

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