Lemon Parmesan Chicken Skillet is a quick, zesty one-pan chicken dish with tender veggies wrapped in a creamy, cozy lemon-kissed sauce.
Delicious Lemon Parmesan Chicken Skillet makes an amazing Main Dish for busy weeknights. You can make the tender, flavorful chicken, veggies, and sauce all in one pan on your stovetop, which makes things super simple. For more one-pan meals, try One Pot Chicken Caesar Pasta and Greek Chicken and Rice.
Sabrina’s Lemon Parmesan Chicken Skillet Recipe
People especially love this meal because, in addition to how tasty it is, it only takes about 20 minutes to make. That alone makes this meal an ideal weeknight dinner. There’s nothing better than enjoying a flavorful, homemade dinner after a long day. Especially when you don’t have to spend lots of time in the kitchen making it.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts , boneless and skinless, cut thinly into flat pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese , grated and divided
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 zucchini , cut into 1/2-inch half circles
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 lemon , juiced and zested
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and mix the flour with the Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
- Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture and heat butter in a skillet on medium-high heat. Place the chicken into the hot skillet.
- Cook the chicken until golden brown, in batches, 2-3 minutes on each side, then remove from the pan.
- Add the chicken broth, broccoli, zucchini and let reduce for 3-4 minutes while the vegetables cook.
- Add in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, stirring well.
- Add the chicken back in, stir gently to combine. Serve over cooked pasta with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
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Table of contents
About this Recipe
This recipe has easily become a family favorite. It’s no wonder! The juicy chicken breasts have a delicious, crispy Parmesan coating, but the inside stays nice and tender. Then the chicken is cooked in a rich, cheesy sauce and finished with some flavorful veggies.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Tender, juicy chicken makes the perfect base for this recipe. Start by slicing the boneless, skinless chicken breast thinly into flat pieces. The flat shape makes the dish easier to cook in a skillet. Season the chicken with salt and ground black pepper to add a little flavor before dredging it in the coating.
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese: You need ½ cup Parmesan cheese total for this recipe, but divide it in half. The first ¼ cup is used with all-purpose flour to make an easy, crispy, flavorful coating for the chicken breasts.
- Creamy lemon sauce: To make the sauce, start with 1 cup chicken broth. Letting the chicken stock reduce makes the flavor more intense. Then you can mix in ½ cup heavy cream and the rest of the Parmesan cheese to make a thicker, richer sauce. The fresh lemon juice and zest from 1 whole lemon add a fresh, slightly tart flavor to the ultra-comforting sauce.
- Veggies: Along with the chicken, you also cook 2 cups of broccoli and 1 whole zucchini in the same pan. A major benefit of this recipe is that you don’t have to worry about cooking a vegetable side separately.
Can this be made ahead of time?
You can make this dish ahead of time, but the best way to store it is to store the chicken and the sauce separately. Keep each in an airtight container. You can reheat the chicken in a pan about 2 minutes on each side over medium heat, or in a 350-degree oven. Then heat the sauce in the same pan and add the chicken to bring it together.
Cooking Tips & Tricks
- Prevent Chicken from Sticking: In order to prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan while it cooks, first make sure you have measured your butter correctly. You need plenty in the pan to brown the chicken. Next, you should melt your butter and get it hot before adding your chicken to the pan so that it starts to cook and sear right away.
- Prep Your Chicken Properly: You need to rinse and dry your chicken before you season it, and the importance of drying it well should be emphasized. If it is still wet when you add the coating, it might fall off during cooking. Additionally, it’s important to salt and pepper the chicken directly and before dredging, so you can fully control how much seasoning it gets. Then coat in the Parmesan flour mixture.
What to Pair With
- This would be a dreamy meal tossed with your favorite pasta to soak up that sauce. Choose any shape you like: angel hair or fettuccini for twirling, bow ties or penne for bite-sized pasta.
- You could also serve the chicken alongside Easy Mashed Potatoes, white rice, or brown rice, and they would also soak up the sauce nicely.
- You can also toss together a fresh salad and serve it with some Crispy Garlic Bread or Soft Dinner Rolls to round out the meal. Who doesn’t love bread to soak up a luscious sauce.
- You can dress it up with fresh parsley and lemon wedges for garnish if you’re serving the meal for a more formal dinner.
How to Store
- Serve: After cooking, don’t leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
- Store: To keep any leftovers, transfer to an airtight container. It will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: You can also carefully seal the meal to store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Frequent Questions
If you prefer using boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, you can absolutely substitute them in this recipe. Usually, about 2 chicken thighs are similar to 1 chicken breast, so you’ll want 4 thighs for this recipe. Slice them into flat strips, and keep in mind that the dark meat in boneless chicken thighs takes a little longer to cook.
If you don’t like lemon sauces, you can make this recipe using a different citrus fruit that will bring a different flavor. Lime juice and zest would work nicely and still pair well with the Parmesan. Orange juice and zest would also work really well and would bring a milder citrus flavor you’re sure to love.
Variations
- Garlic Lemon Sauce: You can add a bold garlic flavor to the sauce by adding a minced garlic clove or garlic powder. If you opt for minced garlic, cook it in the butter until fragrant before adding the chicken broth.
- Italian Seasoning: If you want more Italian flavors, try adding your favorite Italian herbs to the sauce. Use dried oregano, thyme, basil, sage, and rosemary for a classic Italian seasoning blend. You can also garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
- Veggies: For extra flavor and nutrients, add other favorite vegetables to the broccoli and zucchini. Try mixing in yellow squash, green beans, yellow onion, and cauliflower. You can also add in fresh spinach at the same time you return the chicken to the pot.
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