Ingredients
Method
- Cover chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound to 3/4-inch thickness, or slice horizontally if preferred. Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish and dredge each breast to coat. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté chicken for 3 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown, seasoning with lemon pepper during the process. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate.
- Sauté chopped asparagus in the same pan until bright green and tender-crisp, then remove and set aside. Arrange lemon slices in the pan and cook for several minutes per side without stirring until caramelized, adding a small amount of butter if necessary. Remove lemons and set aside.
- Layer the asparagus, chicken, and lemon slices back into the skillet.
Nutrition
Notes
Chicken Choice: I often use chicken thighs when I want a juicier bite, but just keep in mind they might need an extra minute or two in the pan to reach that perfect golden finish.
Pan Space:
One thing I learned the hard way is not to crowd the pan: if the chicken pieces are touching, they will steam instead of getting that beautiful crust I love.
Serving Ideas: To make this a full meal, I like to serve everything over a bed of fluffy white rice or even some quick-cooking couscous since they do a fantastic job of soaking up the honey-lemon butter.
Prep Ahead: You can prep the chicken by pounding it and dredging it in the flour mixture a few hours early, just keep the pieces on a parchment-lined plate in the fridge so the coating stays dry.
Leftover Care: If you have leftovers, they keep well in an airtight container for up to three days, though I recommend reheating them gently in a skillet with a splash of water to keep the meat tender.
Asparagus Prep: If you find your asparagus spears are particularly thick, I suggest slicing them lengthwise before chopping to ensure they cook quickly and stay bright green.
Tool Tips: If you do not have a meat mallet to pound the chicken, a heavy rolling pin or even the bottom of a sturdy skillet works just as well to get that even thickness.