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–+ servings

Healthy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe for Easy Dinners

5 from 1 vote
This Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor. It's an easy chicken dinner that's healthy and perfect for weeknights!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the chicken marinade
  • 2 lemons zest and juice one, slice the other for serving
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 large garlic cloves crushed or minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped, plus more for garnish
For the chicken
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts about 4 large chicken breasts
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1 pinch black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for cooking

Method
 

  1. Zest and juice one lemon into a large mixing bowl. Combine with olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and parsley. Whisk thoroughly and set aside.
  2. Lay chicken breasts flat on a cutting board and slice each horizontally into two thin cutlets. If necessary, cover with plastic wrap and flatten with a kitchen mallet.
  3. Use paper towels to pat the chicken dry, then season both sides with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the marinade, turn to coat, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  4. Warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering, sear the chicken in batches for roughly 4 minutes per side until golden brown and nearly cooked, ensuring the pan is not overcrowded.
  5. Take the chicken off the heat once the internal temperature hits 160°F. Cover loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes until it reaches 165°F. Slice the second lemon while the meat rests.
  6. Decorate the chicken with fresh parsley and lemon slices, then serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe is a go-to for a quick and flavorful meal. The combination of lemon and garlic creates a bright taste that is both comforting and fresh. It proves that simple ingredients can create spectacular results.