Description
Creamy Lemon Herb Parmesan Chicken is a deliciously rich and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a creamy Parmesan and lemon sauce infused with garlic and Italian herbs, perfect for an elegant yet easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Season the chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning to enhance flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: Lower the heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add Liquids: Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping the skillet to lift any flavorful browned bits from the bottom.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Let it simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Combine and Heat: Return the cooked chicken breasts to the skillet, spoon the creamy sauce over them, and let everything simmer together for 2 more minutes to heat through and meld the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the lemon zest and chopped fresh parsley on top for a fresh, vibrant finish before serving.
Notes
- This dish pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to reduce fat content.
- Optional additions like spinach or sun-dried tomatoes can be stirred into the sauce for extra flavor and texture.
