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 1489 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 1489 votes (1,067 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Audra DiLeo
    March 28, 2021

    I’ve made this receipe several times and my family loves it! I love your receipes Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 28, 2021

      So great to hear that, Audra. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

  • Joyce Ann Pendleton
    March 26, 2021

    We made this last night and it was so good!! It looked just like the picture!! We went according to instructions 100%. Only problem, no left-overs. LOL!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 26, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Finn
    March 24, 2021

    I have my own variant at my house and I was using this to get an approximation of the calories and it says it per serving size but not how many oz is one serving lol. I’ll never know

    Reply

  • Jenny Q.
    March 20, 2021

    This was easy to make and tasty! I like the Parmesan crust. Honestly, it was tasty even without the sauce. I did drizzle the sauce at the end like the recipe called for and the chicken was still crispy. Will make again! Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 20, 2021

      You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Mary
    March 18, 2021

    This was SO delicious! I followed the recipe exactly. Wow! Thank you for such an amazingly quick, yet awesome dinner. I paired it with baby red potatoes and zucchini in the air fryer while the chicken and sauce were on the stove. Amazing results!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 19, 2021

      You are very welcome, Mary. Great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!

      Reply

  • S Rodriguez
    March 18, 2021

    Delish!!!! Even my picky husband liked it. And he has requested it again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 18, 2021

      Awesome, I am happy to hear that!

      Reply

  • Melissa R.
    March 16, 2021

    I made this for dinner! It’s soo good with jasmine rice because the butter sauce flavors the rice. Mmmmm 👍

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 16, 2021

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Frances Gonzalez
    March 16, 2021

    This is one of my husband’s favorite dish! Plus it’s so quick and easy to make! The only thing I change was the flour! I am Gluten Free so I used almond flour! Delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 16, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Carol
    March 15, 2021

    I’m making this tonight, yummy
    thank you

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 15, 2021

      Sounds like a good plan, Carol. Please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Polly Sullivan
    March 9, 2021

    Can you make this in the oven vs. stovetop?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 9, 2021

      Hi Polly, I honestly haven’t tested that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes!

      Reply

  • THOMAS ANDREWS
    March 6, 2021

    i ill try this one as it is just about the way i make mine up.not only do i baste the chicken occasionally i lay my lemon slices on top when baking them, sometimes i just slice the breasts half way through stuff with chicken stuffing then follow through with the rest

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 6, 2021

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Tracey
    February 26, 2021

    Delicious combination of flavours! Easy to assemble. I cooked the sauce in the microwave. It worked fine. We had rice with the chicken, so we used some of the sauce on the rice, too. My husband loved it!
    I will certainly be making it again. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 27, 2021

      You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Tracey!

      Reply

  • Lucia
    February 25, 2021

    Thank you Natasha. It is so delicious and so simple. Everyone in my big family loves what I make using your recipes. Thank you again.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 25, 2021

      You are very welcome, Lucia! I’m glad your family is loving my recipes. Thanks for your great review.

      Reply

  • Jami Feezor
    February 24, 2021

    Never commented on Pinterest. This turned out great. We both loved it. I added the tablespoon of flour with the broth but other than that, followed exactly. Very very good. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 24, 2021

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Laurie Nitch
    February 23, 2021

    Not awesome. The chicken part of this recipe was good but the lemon butter sauce was not great. It’s kinda thin & & lifeless. Needs to be creamy

    Reply

  • Elise
    February 21, 2021

    What am I doing wrong??? When I began cooking the chicken the coating came off and stuck to the bottom of the pan. I used plenty of oil, maybe it was too much? On a positive note, I loved the flavor of this recipe. I will definitely make it again once I figure out how to cook it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 22, 2021

      Hi Elise, I haven’t had that experience. Could it be the pan? Are you coating the chicken well? Using a non-stick pan and preheating the pan and oil before adding the chicken?

      Reply

      • Elise
        February 23, 2021

        I did coat the chicken well, but the pan was not non-stick. I did preheat the pan and oil. Thanks for your reply! I will try a non-stick pan next time. Thanks!

        Reply

        • Jen
          March 27, 2021

          It tastes like my husband’s favorite chicken dish from Buca di Beppo’s without the capers. I used chicken thighs – so juicy! I liked spooning the thinner sauce over the crust in the pan, but my mom wanted to add hers to each individual bite with a small spoon to prevent any sogginess. Everyone attacked it so quickly I didn’t think to get pics until after it was all gone!

          Made it with zucchini tossed in the leftover lemon butter sauce. Next time I will make it with capers (because hubs and I love them), thicken it with a touch of xantham gum in the butter sauce, and put it on low-carb fettuccine noodles – I’m sure it will be fabulous!

          Reply

    • A Rowe
      February 25, 2021

      I always pat my chicken dry and let it sit on the counter about 15 minutes so it’s not slick when I dredge. This seems to help breading not slide off when it has a more dry surface to stick too. Straight out of the package it’s just simply too wet to get a good coating.

      Reply

  • Mary Gail Broome
    February 14, 2021

    This has turned into 1 of my family’s favorites. As good as any entree at 5-star restaurant. I do add more pepper/lemon pepper, Italian seasoning to taste plus a little Panko bread crumbs in parm mixture. Thanks for sharing.I serve w/penne pasta and top that w/fresh squeezed lemon and fresh chopped parsley.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 14, 2021

      Hello Mary Gail, wow that’s such great feedback. Thank you so much for your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Elaine
    February 11, 2021

    I made the sauce, it is so thin/liquid like, did I do something wrong? if I put on my breaded chicken it will just go soggy & that would be just yucky.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 11, 2021

      Hi Elaine, if you’d like it thicker, you can try boiling it down more or adding four. I haven’t tried thickening it myself, but cooking it down or adding flour may do that trick!

      Reply

  • GiGi
    February 10, 2021

    I am allergic to eggs, what else can i use to substitute for the mixture that will help the dredging mixture stick?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 10, 2021

      Hi Gigi, I haven’t tried any other substitute to advise. I. checked the comments section too and didn’t see anyone else who used a substitute ingredient for eggs.

      Reply

      • Julie
        June 20, 2021

        I used melted butter (about 4 tablespoons) instead of the eggs and it turned out great!

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          June 20, 2021

          Good to know that, Julie. Thanks for sharing that with us!

          Reply

    • Jackie Ballantyne
      February 11, 2021

      You could try milk. Or double dredge, plain flour, milk, then the cheese mix.

      Reply

  • Candy
    February 10, 2021

    Delicious! Made this last night and we loved it!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 10, 2021

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

    • Laura B
      March 8, 2021

      Really great recipe! We actually only used 3 Tbsp of butter instead of 8 (which seems like a lot) in the sauce and it was still delicious. We love lemon flavor, if you don’t maybe cut back on the lemon juice. Served with brown lemon rice. So good!

      Reply

      • Natasha's Kitchen
        March 9, 2021

        Thanks for your wonderful review, Laura. I’m glad you loved it!

        Reply

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