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

  • Jennifer Jankovik
    January 17, 2026

    Great recipe! I make frequently. Some minor adjustments I make based off my families preferences; add some lemon juice to the pan while I am cooking the chicken breasts, add a good bit of breadcrumbs to the breading part, and add more Italian seasoning. I have adjusted over time, however always use this recipe as the base. Great find!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 17, 2026

      Thank you for sharing those adjustments with me, Jennifer! I’m so glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Sally
    January 16, 2026

    I have store-bought shredded Parmesan cheese. Can I use this instead of grated Parmesan? If so, should I use the same amount of shredded versus grated?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 16, 2026

      Hi Sally, grated parmesan (the one that looks finely ground up rather than shredded), works better to prevent sticking in this recipe. Other readers used shredded in this recipe and found it to not blend as well.

      Reply

    • Jennifer Jankovik
      January 17, 2026

      Grated is definitely better. You are using this to coat the chicken (like breadcrumbs) so need a mixture that will stick to the chicken. Using shredded would not work out the same. If you only have shredded I would substitute the Parmesan for breadcrumbs and than mix the shredded cheese into that. Then you can follow rest of recipe for the sauce, etc. It would still turn out yummy!

      Reply

  • Kelly
    January 14, 2026

    I love anything lemon and this didn’t disappoint! Huge hit! Making it again tonight. Will double the sauce, not the butter, and serve over Italian basmati rice! So good!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 14, 2026

      I’m so happy this was a hit, Kelly!

      Reply

  • NV
    January 13, 2026

    Delish! I added 1/4 cup heavy cream to sauce and added to garnish some shaved parm I also had on hand . Wish I could add photo. So good! Thx from TX!

    Reply

  • NV
    January 13, 2026

    Delish! I added 1/4 cup heavy cream to sauce and added to garnish some shaved parm I also had on hand . So good! Thx from TX!

    Reply

  • Cindy Islitzer
    January 12, 2026

    Excellent recipe. I put a little extra garlic and lemon juice in the sauce then added some capers to it. Perfect! We will make this again fr sure

    Reply

  • Catherine
    January 9, 2026

    I have made this a few times and it always gets rave reviews from those lucky to have it. I do double the sauce ingredients, but not the butter amounts. It is very lemony, but we love it anyway.

    Reply

  • Tracy Abrams
    January 7, 2026

    Loved it so did my grandson and daughter !!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    Reply

  • Sandra Amaro
    January 2, 2026

    Greetings from Vienna! Can I substitute chicken for veaL? The idea is to make veal with the Lemon butter sauce, WITHOUT the egg mixture and the parmesan mixture. What would be your suggestion? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 2, 2026

      Hi Sandra! I have not tested that to advise but I bet that would work. If you do an experiment, let us know how it goes!

      Reply

  • Lori
    December 30, 2025

    Hi Natasha! My family loves this recipe! It really is so delicious and very easy to make. I always triple the sauce minus all of that butter, and it comes out perfect every time. I serve it over pasta and warm Italian bread, sooo yummy, thank you!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 30, 2025

      You’re so welcome, Lori. I love hearing my recipes becoming family favorites. I’m smiling big reading your comment. Thank you!

      Reply

  • Debbie
    December 26, 2025

    Going to try this recipe tonight I’ll let you know how it comes out

    Reply

  • Teri
    December 25, 2025

    I used glute free flour because my grandchild has celiac disease. It was perfect and whole family loved it. If I want to prepare ahead of time, could I made chicken and then later reheat with sauce?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 25, 2025

      I’m so glad you loved it, Teri! It’s best enjoyed fresh, but you could reheat in the oven or pan.

      Reply

  • Angela
    December 19, 2025

    Wonderful!! Made twice, one with coating, one without. Flavorwise both perfect. The coating did help the sauce “stick” to the chicken, which made each mouthful lemony delicious!!

    Reply

  • Amanda
    December 16, 2025

    Really delicious. The lemony butter sauce is wonderful especially if you place the chicken on a bed of angel hair pasta to sort of soak up the flavor without making chicken soggy.I also used italian seasoned panko with the flour and parm cheese for the breading mixture. Also, if you do that, try adding in some cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and black olives. Makes a tremendously great dish even better.

    Reply

  • Rene
    December 14, 2025

    Any tips on how to make this for a crowd of 18 ahead of time? I’ve made it for 6 or less and love it, but am thinking about doing this for a post Christmas family party

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 15, 2025

      Hello! You can click the number of servings in the recipe card and slide it to 18 to change the ingredients in the recipe. However please take note that only the amount of ingredients will be adjusted in the recipe. You can use two large roasting pans or baking dishes to avoid overcrowding, to make it ahead, marinate the chicken and slice the lemons a day ahead. Keep covered in the fridge and bake the next day when you’re ready.

      Reply

  • Lois
    December 14, 2025

    Best recipe I’ve tried for a long time. So easy to make and delicious. I made it totally as recorded and will make it again. It looked like a restaurant dish on my table.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 14, 2025

      That’s lovely! I”m glad it was a huge success!

      Reply

  • Rachel
    December 12, 2025

    Chicken and breading were delicious. The butter sauce was too intense for me. I used it as a dipping sauce in a cup to the side so I could control the portion and keep the breading from getting soggy.

    Reply

  • Joyce Newcome
    December 9, 2025

    I made this last night. It was delicious! I don’t usually bread my chicken but this breading was light and yummy. The sauce was really good on it too. I used about half of the butter and still had some left over. I love your recipes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 9, 2025

      I’m so excited to hear you’re loving my recipes, Joyce! Thank you for your awesome review! We love this chicken recipe too!

      Reply

  • Stephanie McCullough
    December 4, 2025

    Can I make this and freeze it? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 4, 2025

      You can make this ahead of time. I recommend checking this part in the recipe “Can I make this Ahead?” for more info. I haven’t tried freezing it, though, and I worry the parmesan breading will get soggy once defrosted.

      Reply

  • Renee
    December 4, 2025

    I am looking at this recipe and loving it. I want to make it for a larger group. Have you evern done it in the oven?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 4, 2025

      Hi Renee, I have not. See my make ahead instructions above for another option.
      You can also reheat them in the oven or pan or keep them warm in a warm oven that’s turned off. I would keep them covered with foil.

      Reply

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