Creamy Lemon Thyme Chicken
Ingredients
- 4boneless skinless chicken breasts
around 1.5 lbs total
- ¼ tspsalt
- ¼ tspfreshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbspolive oil
- 1 ½ cchicken broth
i recommend reduced sodium
- ¼ clemon juice
about 2 medium lemons
- 1 tbsplemon zest
- ⅓ cfinely chopped onion
1/3 of a medium onion
- 2 clovesgarlic
minced
- 2 ½ tspfresh thyme leaves
or 1.5 teaspoons dried
- ⅓ cheavy cream
at room temperature
- 3 tbspunsalted butter
cubed and at room temperature
- optional for garnish: lemon slices and fresh thyme
Directions
- 1
If the chicken breasts are unevenly thick, pound them down so they’re roughly all the same thickness.
- 2
Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breasts lightly with the salt and pepper. In a large ovenproof skillet, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes, turning once halfway. You want the chicken nice and browned on the outside, but not fully cooked in the centers because they will finish in the oven. Set chicken on a plate and cover tightly with foil until step 5.
- 3
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 4
Remove skillet from the stove and add the broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, onion, garlic, and thyme. Return skillet to the stove over medium high heat. Cook and stir to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil, uncovered, for 10 minutes or until the liquid is reduced to around 1/2 cup (120ml). Stir in the cream and butter. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally, and allow to simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- 5
Add chicken to the sauce and place the skillet in the preheated oven. Bake until the chicken is fully cooked through, about 10 minutes. (Chicken is considered done when an instant read thermometer reads the center of the thickest part as at least 165°F (74°C).)
- 6
Serve chicken with sauce spooned on top and any of the listed optional garnishes. Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for a few days. Reheat to your liking.
Creamy Lemon Thyme Chicken
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About this Recipe
Craving a vibrant, comforting chicken dinner that comes together effortlessly? This Creamy Lemon Thyme Chicken delivers tender chicken coated in a rich, aromatic sauce, all made in a single skillet. You'll love how quickly a restaurant-quality meal appears on your table.
What makes this skillet lemon chicken truly special is its incredible efficiency and depth of flavor. By cooking everything in one oven-safe pan, you build layers of taste, from the perfectly seasoned chicken to the bright, herbaceous lemon thyme sauce that coats every bite. It's a method that maximizes flavor while minimizing cleanup.
Prepare for a dinner that feels both elegant and incredibly comforting. The boneless skinless chicken breasts emerge wonderfully tender, enveloped in a luxurious, creamy sauce that balances the bright tang of lemon with the earthy notes of fresh thyme and savory garlic. It's a harmonious blend of flavors that's surprisingly easy to achieve, making it perfect for a weeknight meal or a casual gathering. The sauce is velvety and clings beautifully to the chicken, leaving you wanting more.
While fresh thyme provides the most aromatic punch, you can easily use dried thyme if that's what you have on hand, following the recipe's recommended substitution. For a lighter touch, opting for reduced-sodium chicken broth allows you to better control the seasoning of your creamy lemon thyme chicken. The beauty of this dish is its simple, satisfying core, adaptable to your pantry.
This Creamy Lemon Thyme Chicken is a fantastic centerpiece for any dinner. Serve it alongside fluffy rice, pasta, or crusty bread to soak up every last bit of that luscious lemon herb sauce. A sprinkle of fresh thyme and a lemon slice make for an inviting presentation.