This delightful Lemon Garlic Chicken Asparagus recipe is a perfect blend of zesty lemon and aromatic garlic, paired with tender chicken breasts and crisp asparagus. It's a quick and healthy meal that brings vibrant flavors to your dinner table.
If you don't usually have asparagus at home, it's worth noting that this vegetable can be found in the produce section of most supermarkets. Look for firm, bright green stalks with closed tips. Additionally, make sure to pick up a fresh lemon for the juice and zest, which adds a refreshing citrus flavor to the dish.
Ingredients For Lemon Garlic Chicken Asparagus Recipe
Chicken breasts: Boneless and skinless, these are the main protein source for the dish.
Asparagus: A green vegetable that adds a crisp texture and fresh flavor.
Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken and asparagus, providing a healthy fat.
Garlic: Minced cloves that add a pungent and aromatic flavor.
Lemon: Both the juice and zest are used to add a bright, tangy flavor.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Black pepper: Adds a mild heat and depth of flavor.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When cooking chicken breasts, ensure they are of even thickness for uniform cooking. If needed, pound them to an even thickness using a meat mallet. This helps in achieving a consistent golden brown color and prevents undercooking or overcooking. Additionally, when adding lemon juice and zest, do so off the heat to preserve the fresh citrus flavor and prevent bitterness.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
boneless, skinless chicken breasts - Substitute with boneless, skinless turkey breasts: Turkey breasts have a similar texture and flavor profile, making them a suitable alternative.
boneless, skinless chicken breasts - Substitute with tofu: For a vegetarian option, firm tofu can mimic the texture and absorb the flavors well.
trimmed asparagus - Substitute with green beans: Green beans have a similar crunch and can be cooked in the same manner as asparagus.
trimmed asparagus - Substitute with broccoli: Broccoli florets provide a similar nutritional profile and can be roasted or sautéed similarly.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar smoke point and health benefits, making it a good alternative.
olive oil - Substitute with grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is neutral in flavor and has a high smoke point, suitable for cooking.
minced garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can provide a similar flavor, though it is less pungent.
minced garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder, slightly sweet garlic flavor and can be used in a similar quantity.
juiced and zested lemon - Substitute with lime: Lime provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor, though it is slightly more tart.
juiced and zested lemon - Substitute with white wine vinegar: White wine vinegar can mimic the acidity of lemon juice, though it lacks the citrus aroma.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a similar level of saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in the same quantity and provides a slightly different mineral flavor.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile.
black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds heat but with a spicier kick, so use sparingly.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How To Store / Freeze This Recipe
- Allow the chicken breasts and asparagus to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the food soggy.
- Transfer the cooled lemon garlic chicken and asparagus into airtight containers. For best results, use separate containers for the chicken and asparagus to maintain their textures.
- Label the containers with the date to keep track of freshness. The dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- For freezing, wrap each chicken breast individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Place the wrapped chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Blanch the asparagus before freezing to preserve its color and texture. To do this, boil the asparagus for 2-3 minutes, then immediately transfer it to an ice bath. Once cooled, pat dry and place in a freezer-safe bag.
- When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken and asparagus in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, or use a microwave for convenience.
- For a quick meal prep, slice the chicken and asparagus before storing. This makes it easier to portion out and reheat later.
- To maintain the vibrant flavor, consider adding a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest just before serving.
How To Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken breasts and asparagus in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through.
- For a bit of extra flavor, squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top before serving.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of olive oil.
- Place the chicken and asparagus in the skillet.
- Cover the skillet with a lid to help retain moisture.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is heated through.
- Add a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of salt and pepper to refresh the flavors.
Microwave Method:
- Place the chicken and asparagus on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to prevent drying out.
- Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If needed, continue heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
- Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken and asparagus in the air fryer basket.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Once heated, remove and add a touch of fresh lemon zest for a burst of flavor.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Skillet: A large, flat-bottomed pan used for cooking the chicken and asparagus over medium heat.
Tongs: Useful for flipping the chicken breasts and handling the asparagus without piercing them.
Knife: Essential for trimming the asparagus and mincing the garlic.
Cutting board: A sturdy surface for safely cutting and preparing ingredients like chicken, garlic, and asparagus.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure out the olive oil, salt, and black pepper accurately.
Lemon zester: A tool to zest the lemon, extracting the flavorful outer peel without the bitter pith.
Citrus juicer: Handy for juicing the lemon efficiently to add fresh lemon juice to the dish.
Spatula: Useful for stirring the garlic and asparagus in the skillet.
Plate: For setting aside the cooked chicken breasts temporarily.
Serving dish: To present the final dish attractively once everything is cooked and combined.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Prep ingredients in advance: Trim and wash the asparagus and mince the garlic ahead of time to streamline the cooking process.
Use a meat mallet: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for quicker and more uniform cooking.
One-pan method: Cook everything in the same skillet to save on cleanup time and enhance the flavors.
Lemon zest hack: Zest the lemon before juicing it to save time and get the most out of your citrus.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 pieces Chicken Breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 bunch Asparagus trimmed
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 piece Lemon juiced and zested
- 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- 2. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook in the skillet for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- 3. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 4. Add asparagus to the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes until tender.
- 5. Return chicken to the skillet, add lemon juice and zest, and cook for another 2 minutes.
- 6. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts
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