One Skillet Chicken With Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce
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Say hello to your new favorite one skillet chicken dinner that’s topped with a lemon garlic butter cream sauce! I used thin chicken breasts but this recipe would be delicious with boneless chicken thighs too!
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- cup finely diced shallots
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or basil
What You Need For Creamy Lemon Chicken Breast
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Chicken breast or boneless skinless thigh
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Chicken broth/stock gives the sauce flavour
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Cream and lemon because were making a creamylemon sauce
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Parmesan for umami AND to help thicken the sauce
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Mustard sauce thickening and extra flavour/tang
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Flour to dust chicken
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Garlic because garlic goes in 99% of my savoury foods
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Butter because butter makes everything better
How This Recipe Came About
Im always on the hunt for new chicken recipes. I especially embrace healthier recipes that taste like Im cheating! This recipe for Creamy Lemon Chicken is both.
I spent a fair amount of time a month or so back both looking for recipes for honey garlic chicken, as well as experimenting on my own. One search led to another, and before I knew it, I was staring todays recipe in the face on the pages of Eating Well Magazine.
The recipe I assumed may be too similar to my post on Chicken Francaise, but upon reading through the ingredients, I knew I was looking at something entirely unique. The ingredients are eclectic and only marry at the very end. Smoked paprika, thyme, pinot grigio, lemon, honey, and best of all, grated garlic cloves.
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Lemon Chicken Scallopini With Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Is Your New Family Favourite Dinner
This Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce combines two recipes into one: lemon garlic chicken AND a lemon garlic cream sauce to keep the flavours going!
A lot of my readers have been asking if this Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken Piccata can be served without the addition of parmesan cheese. Even though I do understand some people have parmesan cheese issues I have to admit part of me screams WHAT THE EVEN?! NO PARMESAN? But WHY? THEN, in the same breath, some readers have been asking if they can cook this Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken with chicken breasts.
INCOMING.the recipe of your dreams.
Can I just say that our Saturday night dinner was one of the best weve had in a looooooong time. This recipe was so good I made it again on Sunday. You know, for my parents, which is NOT an excuse. Maybe.
Also, I have a confession. I maybe sort of kind of okay I did drink the sauce out of the pan by the spoonfuls.
In the recipe, Ive provided you with options. I tried this recipe first without coating the chicken in flour and then I tried it with. Personally, I LOVE the floured version a lot more than the non-floured, due to the soft coating on the chicken after frying. BUT I also understand many of my readers are doing low carb right nowso this is a killing-two-birds-with-one-stone kinda recipe.
Lemon Chicken Scallopini with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce is THE ultimate chicken recipe!
Chicken In Lemon Cream Sauce

This recipe is fairly simple, but it is definitely not a easy weeknight meal. This is a nice dinner to make when you have some time to pour a glass of wine, put your favorite show on television and are prepared to spend some time in the kitchen. I cant remember where or when I have a Chicken In A Lemon Cream Sauce, but I know I have and that is why I wanted to make it. The recipe sort of came about in a Fridge Forage situation, these are the ingredients I had on hand. I needed to make a few adjustments but I think this recipe is a keeper. Here is what you will need to make Chicken In Lemon Cream Sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, I cut mine up to have smaller, thinner pieces.
- 2 Medium Sized Lemons, Juice them and reserve the juice and Zest one so that you have at least 1 T of Zest
- 6 Cloves of Garlic, Smashed
- 1 Block Of Cream Cheese
- 1 C of Chicken Broth
- 1/2 C of Heavy Cream
- Italian Seasoning
- 2 T of Corn Starch
The steps are as follows:
Steps
I served this chicken on top of some buttery mashed potatoes. It would also be good on rice or even just on their own. The sauce is a decadent and rich treat and the chicken breasts are super tender and juicy. The tangy lemon and herbs really makes this dish special. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we did!
If you like this recipe for lots more!
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About Lemon Cream Sauce
This delicious sauce is a cream based reduction flavored with the bright, tart notes of fresh lemon juice. Our recipe is chef and home cook tried and true. It is easy to execute, the sauce is stable and has multiple uses.
The secret to a velvety and rich creamy lemon sauce is to simmer heavy-cream with a couple of aromatic flavoring agents until it is infused with lemony and savory goodness.
Heavy cream is the perfect medium for the job because:
- it is incredibly receptive to other flavors and embraces them with enthusiasm.
- unlike butter, which once overheated becomes oily, it also thickens beautifully as it simmers and transforms into a suave, flavorful culinary concoction.
Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce For Crab Legs
Elevate your crab leg game by serving a side of this sauce! You will wow your guests and it is an amazingly delicious sauce to dip your crab legs in!
Whether you steaming or grilling your crab legs, this is a must-try sauce to pair with them!
I love serving crab legs with elote as a side dish. It is a match made in heaven and perfect for an elegant party!
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Easy Lemon Chicken Piccata
One of our favorite meals of the week was this Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata. My favorite part was that it was a one pot meal and ready on the dinner table in 30 minutes! It is just like the classic chicken piccata dish, but with the added lemon tang. It gives it such a fresh and delicious taste to this creamy sauce. The chicken has a delicious breading on the outside and it is perfect served over some pasta. Everyone in my family loved this meal. It had such a delicious flavor and will be one that we make again and again!
This American Italian favorite is so creamy and delicious. Piccata literally means, pounded flat and cooked in a sauce of lemon, parsley and butter. Done in one pan and in 30 minutes means you can have an incredible meal on the table in no time. Do not be scared of the capers. They really make the dish amazing. If you have never had them, this is the perfect dish to try them with. You have to try this creamy lemon piccata!
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!
Cooks Tip If the chicken crust begins to brown too quickly, reduce heat allowing the chicken to fully cook through.
Also Check: Freddy’s Jalapeno Fry Sauce
What You Need To Make Creamy Lemon Chicken
Boneless skinless chicken breasts, fresh lemon, mushrooms, butter, heavy whipping cream, chicken broth, flour, white pepper, salt and pepper.
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NOTE: This is not a sponsored post, I have no affiliation with food.com, I am just a fan of this recipe. When I share a tried and true recipe, I always credit the source and often will send you to the site for the directions. All you need to do is click on Print Recipe below and it will take you to the full recipe. One extra step for an awesome recipe, thats it! Its important to me to share the love and send you to the original source.
Ingredients For Lemon Chicken
Super simple ingredients come together to make an irresistible meal. Serve this with a nice green salad and some rolls and you have dinner made!
- Chicken: Boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded flat if needed.
- Salt and Pepper:To taste.
- Angel Hair Pasta: Can substitute spaghetti noodles if you would like.
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More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes
- Chicken Thigh Kebabs with Chile Yogurt Sauce
- Chicken Cutlets with Jalapeno Orange Sauce and Black Beans
- Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Grilled Chicken Skewers with Tomatillos and Mint Vinaigrette
If youre looking for more Chicken Recipes, dont miss my Chicken Category. Youll find lots of great ideas, including the most popular chicken recipe on my site for Santa Fe Chicken Wings.
Looking for more chicken thigh recipe ideas? Check out my post for the Best Braised Chicken Recipes
If youve tried this or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. And write a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback.
And, dont forget to for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day every day.
How To Make Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

For full ingredient measurements and serving suggestions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below!
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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.
How To Make This Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken
This chicken recipes comes together in 30 minutes or so. Super easy and only one skillet required to make clean-up a breeze! Seriously, there are so many reasons to love this creamy lemon chicken!
Heres how to make it in a few simple steps:
Thats all! I like to garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices. Highly recommended. And, per usual, you can find detailed ingredient quantities and instructions in the recipe card below.
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What To Serve With Creamy Lemon Chicken
Lately, I have been partial to lightly sauteed vegetables and greens. In particular, fresh spinach is on my hot list. Creamy Lemon Chicken with spinach thats been sauteed with garlic and a wee bit of salt is fabulous, and the two seem to pair naturally.
If pasta or rice dont have you feeling enthusiastic, maybe a potato dish will? Consider Cheesy Mashed Potato Casserole. If you prefer to keep to less starchy sides, Brown Butter French Green Beans With Toasted Pecans are always a big, big winner. I am also partial to A Butternut Squash Gratin With Parmesan And Rosemary.
How To Make Creamy Lemon Chicken
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How To Make One Skillet Chicken With Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce:
Get those chicken breasts cooking on both sides. You dont have to worry about cooking the chicken all the way through. Were just looking to get some color on the chicken and for all those wonderful flavor bits to form in the bottom of the pan. The flavor bits are going to be deglazed with chicken broth and lemon juice to make the lemon garlic cream sauce for this skillet chicken.
If youre using chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs, just make sure that all of them are about the same thickness. Mine were about ½-¾ inch thick. I browned each side of the chicken for just 2 minutes. Dont worry about cooking the chicken all the way through as were going to finish the sauce and the chicken together in the oven for a quick 5 minutes.
To be honest with you, I was a little intimidated by the idea of adding heavy cream to a lemon sauce. I had the biggest fear of it curdling on me. I find the trick is to use just a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice and to reduce it with the chicken broth. Once thats done, I lowered the flame and melted some butter into the sauce. Finally, taking the sauce off the heat completely, I whisked in the cream and placed it back on the flame for just a couple of seconds. Dont let the sauce come to a boil. And it worked, beautifully! And can I say something? This is the best lemon garlic cream sauce Ive ever had! A big pat on the back. Checking the cream sauce off my culinary bucket list! Hooray!
How To Make Creamy Chicken Lemon Pasta
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What If I Cannot Find Crme Frache
Although the two are similar, crème fraîche and sour cream do have notable differences that most certainly can affect the outcome of a recipe. This is especially true if the crème fraîche is being specified to thicken a hot liquid or sauce.
Sour cream is roughly 20 percent fat and crème fraiche is right at 30 percent fat. This small, but HUGELY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION means crème fraiche is not prone to curdling. Sour cream, meanwhile, is prone to curdling when heated.
Because of this, mascarpone cheese, in a pinch, is a much better substitute than sour cream which may curdle and break in the lemon sauce. If using sour cream, remove the pan from the heat and wait for a minute or two before whisking the sour cream in.
If you are planning this dish ahead and cannot attain crème fraiche, combine two cups of heavy cream with three tablespoons of buttermilk in a jar, then wait for two days for the mixture to magically thicken. You can use your new DIY crème fraiche anywhere youd normally use store-bought sour cream so nothing ends up going to waste.
Do Chicken Thighs Taste Different Than Chicken Breasts

Yes, they do taste slightly different. The reason I my ingredients lists often call for either is to account for a matter of preference. While both parts of the chicken are flavorful, chicken breasts are made of white meat and chicken thighs are dark meat. That means that chicken thighs have more fat in the meat. Also, chicken thighs are generally sold with the skin on, and that adds to their fat content .
Although there is more fat on chicken thighs, its the good kind of fat, so its nothing to get too concerned with. However, its this additional fat content that changes the flavor of the chicken. Chicken thighs tend to be more meatier tasting, for lack of a better word. They possess a richer, more robust chicken flavor, whereas the breasts, while delicious, tend to take on more of the flavor of whatever spices, marinades, or rubs you happen to be cooking them with.
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