Description

Chicken Scampi is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender boneless, skinless chicken sautéed with fresh garlic, lemon juice, and white wine or chicken broth, all combined in a rich buttery sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this versatile recipe pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or veggies and appeals to all taste preferences including picky eaters.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (quantity as needed, typically 1 lb)
Salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)
Flour (optional, for dredging)

Sauce

3–4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
1/3 to 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt and black pepper. If desired, lightly dredge the chicken in flour to create a slight crispy crust that holds up well in the sauce.
Sauté the Chicken: Heat olive oil and half of the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to rest.
Create the Garlic Lemon Sauce: In the same skillet, melt the remaining butter. Add the finely chopped garlic and sauté briefly until fragrant but not browned. Pour in the white wine or chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits. Squeeze in fresh lemon juice and let the sauce simmer and reduce slightly to intensify flavors.
Combine and Finish: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and spoon the sauce over it. Let it cook together for 1-2 minutes to meld flavors. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Let chicken come to room temperature before cooking to ensure even cooking and juiciness.
Watch the cooking time carefully to avoid overcooking and keep chicken tender.
Use freshly minced garlic for the best vibrant flavor.
Deglaze the pan thoroughly to incorporate all browned bits into the sauce for richer taste.
Taste and adjust lemon juice to balance acidity before serving.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Sautéing
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 400 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 110 mg

Keywords: Chicken Scampi, garlic chicken, lemon chicken, quick dinner, weeknight recipe, buttery chicken, easy chicken recipe, gluten free chicken