Description
Skillet Garlic Lemon Butter Chicken with Green Beans is a quick, one-pan dinner featuring tender chicken breasts cooked in a zesty, creamy plant-based lemon butter sauce with fresh garlic and crisp green beans. This nutritious, flavorful meal comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights and customizable to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pound fresh or frozen green beans, trimmed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 slices smoked turkey bacon, chopped
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons plant-based butter
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon natural gelling agent
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels to ensure a nice sear. Trim the green beans and mince fresh garlic. Slice the smoked turkey bacon and squeeze fresh lemon juice. Have all ingredients ready for smooth cooking.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook about 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate while preparing the green beans and sauce.
- Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon and Green Beans: In the same skillet, add the smoked turkey bacon and cook until slightly crisp. Add the green beans and sauté for 4-5 minutes until tender-crisp, stirring frequently to coat with bacon flavor and oil.
- Make the Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add plant-based butter and minced garlic to the skillet, cooking 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in lemon juice, black pepper, salt, and natural gelling agent to thicken slightly. Stir continuously to keep the sauce smooth and silky.
- Combine and Finish: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, nestling them into the green beans and sauce. Spoon sauce over the chicken to coat thoroughly. Let everything meld together for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Pat dry the chicken to ensure a crispy golden sear instead of steaming.
- Use fresh lemon juice for bright citrus flavor; bottled juice may lack freshness.
- Cook garlic just until fragrant to prevent bitterness.
- Do not overcrowd the skillet; cook in batches if necessary to keep ingredients sizzling.
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes before slicing to lock in juices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: garlic lemon butter chicken, skillet chicken recipe, green beans chicken, quick dinner, one-pan meal, plant-based butter sauce, healthy chicken recipe
