Description

A quick, one-pan skillet recipe combining tender chicken breasts or thighs with crisp green beans in a bright lemon garlic butter sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this dish offers vibrant flavors, minimal cleanup, and a healthy, balanced meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Vegetables

8 oz fresh green beans, trimmed and rinsed

Sauce & Seasonings

2 tbsp butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Optional

Chopped fresh parsley or thyme for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the Ingredients: Trim and rinse the fresh green beans, then pat them dry. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Zest and juice the lemon. Trim and ready the chicken breasts or thighs for cooking.
Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Sear on each side until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Sauté Garlic and Green Beans: Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the green beans and stir occasionally until they soften but still retain a slight crunch, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Combine and Finish with Lemon: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the green beans. Pour fresh lemon juice and sprinkle lemon zest over everything. Stir gently to coat and let the flavors meld for 1 to 2 minutes before serving.

Notes

Choose evenly sized chicken pieces to ensure uniform cooking without drying.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet to allow proper browning and caramelization.
Use fresh lemon juice and zest for brighter flavor compared to bottled.
Add garlic after reducing heat to prevent burning and bitterness.
Let chicken rest briefly after cooking to lock in juices.
Frozen green beans can be used if thawed and patted dry before cooking.
This recipe is naturally gluten-free and can be made spicy by adding red pepper flakes or cayenne during the garlic sauté.
Butter can be replaced with coconut oil or vegan butter for a dairy-free version.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 350 mg
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 8 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 35 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg

Keywords: lemon garlic chicken, one pan dinner, green beans, quick chicken recipe, healthy weeknight meal, gluten free chicken skillet