Here’s a bright, comforting recipe for Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken—tender chicken in a silky lemony sauce with fresh herbs. It’s quick enough for weeknights but elegant enough for guests.
🍋🌿 Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
Ingredients (serves 3–4)
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½–1 lemon (to taste)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional, but excellent)
Herbs
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning or
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme or rosemary, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken
- Pat chicken dry. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Sear
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and nearly cooked through.
- Remove and set aside.
- Build the sauce
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and garlic; sauté 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Deglaze with chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
- Make it creamy
- Stir in cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, and herbs.
- Simmer gently until slightly thickened (3–5 minutes).
- Finish cooking
- Return chicken to the pan. Spoon sauce over it.
- Simmer 5–7 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Taste & serve
- Adjust salt, pepper, and lemon to taste.
- Garnish with extra herbs or lemon slices.
🍽 Serving Ideas
- Over buttered pasta or rice
- With mashed potatoes or roasted baby potatoes
- Alongside steamed green beans, asparagus, or spinach
💡 Pro Tips
- Use chicken thighs for extra juiciness.
- If sauce thickens too much, add a splash of broth.
- For extra depth, add a tablespoon of grated Parmesan at the end.
If you want, I can also share:
- A one-pan baked version
- A dairy-free creamy lemon chicken
- Or a Mediterranean-style variation with spinach and olives
Just tell me!