Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe

Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, these are the main protein for the dish.

Flour: Used for coating the chicken, giving it a light crust.

Butter: Adds richness and flavor to the sauce.

Chicken broth: Provides a savory base for the sauce.

Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed for a bright, tangy flavor.

Garlic: Minced to add aromatic depth to the sauce.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Black pepper: Adds a touch of heat and seasoning.

When coating the chicken breasts in flour, make sure to shake off any excess to avoid a thick, gummy layer. This ensures a light, crispy exterior when searing. Additionally, when melting the butter in the skillet, be careful not to let it brown too much before adding the chicken. This will help maintain the delicate flavor of the lemon butter sauce. Finally, when scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet after adding the chicken broth and lemon juice, use a wooden spoon to avoid scratching the skillet and to effectively incorporate those flavorful bits into the sauce.

• chicken breasts - Substitute with turkey breasts: Turkey breasts have a similar texture and can be cooked in the same way as chicken breasts.

• flour - Substitute with cornstarch: Cornstarch can be used as a coating to achieve a similar crispy texture when frying or baking.

• butter - Substitute with ghee: Ghee has a higher smoke point and a rich, buttery flavor that works well in cooking.

• chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth provides a similar savory base and is suitable for those avoiding meat products.

• lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice offers a similar acidity and citrus flavor, making it a good alternative.

• garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots provide a mild, sweet flavor that can complement the dish in a similar way to garlic.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty and umami flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a similar heat and flavor profile, making it a suitable alternative.

• Allow the chicken breasts to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the chicken soggy.
• Transfer the cooled chicken breasts to an airtight container. If you have multiple pieces, place a piece of parchment paper between each to prevent sticking.
• Pour any remaining lemon butter sauce into a separate airtight container. This keeps the sauce fresh and prevents the chicken from becoming overly saturated.
• Store the chicken and sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This ensures the flavors remain vibrant and the chicken stays tender.
• For longer storage, wrap each chicken breast tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This double layer of protection helps prevent freezer burn.
• Freeze the lemon butter sauce in a separate freezer-safe container or ice cube tray. Once frozen, transfer the sauce cubes to a freezer bag for easy portioning.
• Label each container with the date to keep track of freshness. This is especially helpful for maintaining the quality of your lemon butter chicken.
• When ready to enjoy, thaw the chicken and sauce in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing process helps retain the texture and flavor.
• Reheat the chicken breasts in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to keep them moist. Heat until warmed through, about 5-7 minutes.
• Warm the lemon butter sauce separately in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until smooth and heated through. This ensures the sauce retains its rich, buttery consistency.
• Serve the reheated chicken with the warmed lemon butter sauce drizzled over the top. Enjoy the same delightful flavors as when freshly made.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the chicken breasts in an oven-safe dish and spoon some of the lemon butter sauce over them.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep the chicken moist.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of chicken broth or lemon butter sauce to the skillet to prevent sticking.
  3. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  4. Heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is warmed through.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the chicken breasts on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Spoon some lemon butter sauce over the chicken to keep it moist.
  3. Cover the plate with a microwave-safe cover or another plate to trap steam.
  4. Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through. Continue heating in 30-second intervals until the chicken is hot.

• Sous Vide Method:

  1. Preheat your sous vide machine to 140°F (60°C).
  2. Place the chicken breasts in a vacuum-sealed bag or a ziplock bag with some lemon butter sauce.
  3. Submerge the bag in the water bath and heat for 30-45 minutes.
  4. Remove from the bag and serve immediately.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is warmed through and slightly crispy.

• Oven: Used to bake the chicken breasts to ensure they are cooked through.

• Skillet: A large skillet is needed to brown the chicken and prepare the sauce.

• Tongs: Useful for turning the chicken breasts while browning them in the skillet.

• Measuring cups: Essential for accurately measuring the flour, butter, chicken broth, and lemon juice.

• Measuring spoons: Needed to measure the salt and black pepper.

• Knife: Used to mince the garlic cloves.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for mincing the garlic.

• Whisk: Helps in mixing the sauce ingredients smoothly.

• Spatula: Useful for scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.

• Baking dish: If you prefer, you can transfer the chicken and sauce to a baking dish before placing it in the oven.

• Serving spoon: Used to spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken when serving.

Pre-measure ingredients: Measure and prepare all ingredients before starting to cook. This will streamline the process and reduce cooking time.

Use a single skillet: Cooking the chicken breasts and making the sauce in the same skillet saves time on washing dishes and enhances flavor.

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven while you prepare the chicken to ensure it's ready to go when you need it.

Thin chicken breasts: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for quicker and more uniform cooking.

Minced garlic: Use pre-minced garlic to save time on chopping.