Looking for a delicious, flavorful chicken dinner the whole family will love? This easy lemon garlic chicken recipe is bursting with bright, fresh lemon flavor and aromatic garlic.
It’s quick to make, but it tastes like you spent all day cooking. The lemon garlic sauce is incredible, made with fresh lemon juice, garlic, butter, and herbs. It takes basic chicken breasts or thighs to a whole new level!
This recipe works great with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs. The lemon juice helps tenderize the chicken, making it super moist and juicy.
The garlic chicken cooks up tender and is infused with flavor in the lemon garlic sauce. It’s one of my favorite chicken recipes and has become a regular on our dinner table!
Benefits of This Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
There are so many things I love about this chicken recipe:
- It’s quick and easy—ready in 30 minutes! No marinating is required.
- Bursting with fresh, bright lemon flavor.
- The garlic-chicken broth sauce is incredible.
- Infuses chicken with lots of flavor.
- Chicken comes out juicy and tender.
- It only takes five ingredients (not counting oil, salt, and pepper).
- Easy to double or triple for a crowd.
- Healthy, gluten-free, and low-carb.
- Kid-friendly and picky eater-approved!
It’s the perfect easy chicken dinner recipe your whole family will love. The lemon and garlic flavors are outstanding. Let’s get to the recipe!
Ingredients you’ll need
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 lbs.)
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon slices for garnish (optional)
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
That’s it! As you can see, this lemon garlic chicken recipe comes together with just a few simple ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a simple walkthrough for how to make this easy skillet chicken recipe:
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and almost cooked through. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the lemon juice and chicken broth. Stir and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Return the chicken and any juices to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, spooning the sauce over the chicken frequently, until the chicken breasts are fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Remove from heat. Season with a bit more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Garnish with lemon slices and fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately with your choice of side dishes. Enjoy!
That’s all it takes! Let’s go over some serving suggestions and tips for making the best lemon garlic chicken.
Serving Suggestions
This lemon chicken recipe pairs well with so many side dishes, like:
- Rice or riced cauliflower
- Roasted potatoes or mashed potatoes
- Pasta, couscous, or quinoa
- A green salad or steamed green beans
- Buttered corn on the cob
We love serving it with mashed potatoes or herbed rice pilaf. It’s a complete, balanced meal that still comes together quickly on busy weeknights.
Cooking Tips
- Use bone-in chicken thighs for even more flavor and moisture. The bones help keep the meat juicy.
- For grilled chicken, brush some of the lemon garlic sauce over the chicken for about 5 minutes before removing it from the grill.
- This also works great in the slow cooker; just mix everything in the crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- To make this pressure cooker lemon garlic chicken, cook for 8–10 minutes with a natural release.
- For a baked version, arrange the chicken in a baking dish and pour over the sauce. Bake at 375F for 20–25 minutes.
- Try using chicken tenderloins or chicken breast fillets too. Adjust the cooking time as needed.
- To freeze, cover and freeze the chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and combine to reheat.
More Delicious Lemon Chicken Recipes
If you love this easy lemon garlic chicken recipe, be sure to try these other flavorful lemon chicken dinners:
- Lemon Butter Chicken: chicken sautéed in an incredible lemon butter sauce.
- Lemon Chicken Piccata: chicken breasts cooked in a bright pan sauce with lemon, butter, and capers
- Lemon Chicken with Asparagus: take this recipe and add asparagus for a complete meal.
- Lemon Chicken Pasta: chicken and pasta tossed with a lemon cream sauce
- Lemon Basil Chicken: chicken cooked with basil, lemon, and white wine
This easy skillet chicken recipe is my new favorite way to cook up quick, flavorful chicken any night of the week. The lemon-garlic sauce is amazing and takes basic chicken to a whole new level. I know your family is going to love it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about making this easy lemon garlic chicken recipe:
How long does it take to make it?
From start to finish, this recipe takes about 30 minutes to make. No marinating is required, so the chicken and sauce cook up quickly.
What’s the best chicken to use?
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs work great in this recipe. Chicken thighs have a bit more natural fat, so the meat stays juicy.
Can I use frozen chicken?
Yes, frozen chicken will work fine. Just be sure to thaw it completely first and pat it dry before cooking. The cooking time may need to be a few minutes longer.
Can I double or triple the recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is easy to scale up. Just use a bigger skillet or cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan when searing the chicken.
How should I store leftovers?
Store leftover lemon-garlic chicken and sauce separately in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat gently before serving again.
Can I freeze this recipe?
Yes, you can freeze the cooked chicken and sauce in freezer bags or containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating to serve.
What sides go well with this chicken?
Some delicious options are rice, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, pasta, quinoa, or a fresh green salad. Steamed broccoli or green beans are also great.
Now let’s get cooking!
Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves or chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 lbs total
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 large lemons)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry, and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side until golden brown and nearly cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the lemon juice and chicken broth. Stir and scrape up any browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Return the chicken and juices to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, spooning the sauce over the chicken, until fully cooked through and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove from heat. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Garnish with lemon slices and chopped fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately with your choice of side dishes. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for even more moisture and flavor.
- This also works great grilled, baked, or in the instant pot.
- Try serving with rice, potatoes, pasta, or a fresh green salad.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Let’s Make This Easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
I hope you enjoy this fast, delicious lemon garlic chicken recipe as much as I do! It’s perfect for busy weeknights and makes enough for leftovers too. The lemon garlic sauce is incredible and takes chicken to a whole new level of flavor.
Let me know if you have any questions! I wish you many happy, delicious lemon chicken dinners ahead. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m Julie, the passionate foodie and founder of Juliesfamilykitchen.com. I created this blog out of a drive to prove someone wrong, and then I realized how much I truly enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. In my free time, when I’m not running around after my kids or spending quality time with my partner, you can usually find me in the kitchen experimenting with new dishes.