This savory Lemon Butter Chicken is super easy to make and just over the top in taste! Full of flavor, every bite is unforgettable. The lemon cream sauce mixed with fresh garlic and Parmesan cheese pairs perfectly with the tender and juicy chicken. So savory…this dish will leave you coming back for more! Perfect for any weeknight dinner!
Best. Chicken. Recipe. EVER!
Because we all need an easy and delicious recipe for those weeknights…
This simple and crazy flavorful chicken dish is about to become a favorite in your house. I guarantee it! Gosh…I love a good chicken dish. I mean…who doesn’t? If you are anything like me though, you get in this rut of making the same chicken recipes over and over and over again. Well, sometimes you need to switch it up a bit and this recipe is the perfect one to try if you are tired of the same old chicken recipe!
Simple Ingredients
Let’s talk about the simple ingredients in this dish because we all need a little bit of simple.
- Chicken Breasts
- Garlic
- Spinach
- Smoked Paprika
- Lemon
- Fresh Cracked Pepper
- Heavy cream
- Unsalted Butter
- Chicken Broth
- Parmesan Cheese
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Wine (optional but soooo worth the splash!)
How To Make This Lemon Butter Chicken
First, you’re going to start off by seasoning the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and paprika.
Next, add unsalted butter and sauté the chicken for about 2-3 minutes, on each side.
When it’s finished sautéing, you’ll set the chicken aside on a plate so you can sauté the garlic and butter. Note – the chicken is NOT done at this point.
When the garlic is sautéd, you’re ready to start making the sauce. You’re going to combine the sautéd garlic, chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and thyme. Oh – and don’t forget to add that splash of wine! So YUM!!
Now, you’re going to bring the sauce to a slow rolling boil.
Next, add the fresh spinach to the sauce.
The spinach will start to wilt. Guys…be prepared! This step in the process smells SO GOOD! It’s mouthwatering!
Next step…your sauce is going to start slowly thickening. When the sauce slightly thickens, you’ll add the sautéd chicken into the sauce so you can bake everything in the oven to finish up the cooking process. And the paprika in this Lemon Butter Chicken recipe! Oh I just love the paprika in this dish. It really helps this chicken sauté beautifully and that flavor…AMAZING!
The sauteed garlic mixed with the juices of the chicken and other ingredients makes you want to eat it at this stage…but please don’t! It’s worth the wait, I promise!
Lastly, after the chicken bakes in the oven, your Lemon Butter Chicken is ready to eat! Look how savory this dish turns out! Super fast and easy to make, this dish is full of flavor and this chicken is crazy juicy!
What To Pair With Lemon Butter Chicken
This is your PERFECT weeknight dinner recipe and you want to pair this Lemon Butter Chicken with some amazing side dishes. I love pairing this dish with the following:
- Ono Rice (I like to mix the rice with the lemon butter sauce…it makes every bite so divine!)
- Instant Pot Rice
- Brussels Sprout Salad
- Perfect Homemade Mashed Potatoes
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
Tips and Tricks About This Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe
- Gluten Free – It’s gluten free. YEAH!
- Types of Paprika – You can use regular paprika if that’s all you have but I highly recommend using and Smoked Paprika for this dish. To keep it simple…regular paprika is just crushed dried chilies. Smoked paprika uses chilies that are smoke-dried and then crushed. HUGE flavor difference! For more differences, check out this article: Smoked Paprika Vs. Paprika
- Oven Safe Dish – This dish works perfectly in a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, but I used a Rockcrok from Pampered Chef and it worked amazingly well!
- Adding Additional Ingredients – If you want to kick this recipe up a notch and make it a bit more fancy, you can add in the Fresh mushrooms and Capers. I love the added flavor of both of these ingredients with this dish! You would simply add the fresh mushrooms and capers in when you add in the spinach and parsley! Serve over mashed potatoes, rice or your favorite pasta and it’s fantastic!
It was inevitable. This dish became a family favorite! It looks and tastes like it took a long time to make, but it’s super easy and absolutely fantastic! I promise, you will devour every single bite down to the last drop!
And if you’ve tried my Lemon Butter Chicken recipe, leave me a comment! I love to hear from my readers! And don’t forget to rate the recipe below!!
One more thing! Make sure to FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest because I’m CONSTANTLY posting recipes that I know you will love, just like this Lemon Butter Chicken recipe! Oh, and share the love by sharing this recipe to your favorite social media channels! For your convenience, I put share buttons at the top of this post!
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1/2 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 3 Tablespoons Unsalted butter, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Splash of dry white wine
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Season the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika. Set aside.
- Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a large oven-proof skillet (a Le Creuset Dutch Oven works well or a RockCrok or cast iron skillet) over medium high heat.
- Add the chicken and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set chicken aside on separate plate.
While the chicken is resting, return back to the same skillet and melt remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes.
Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, splash of wine and thyme.
Bring sauce to a boil and reduce heat. Add in the spinach and parsley and simmer until the spinach and parsley has wilted and the sauce has slightly thickened.
- Continue to cook the sauce about 5-7 minutes so the sauce becomes thicker. You don't want the sauce to become too runny!
Once your sauce is to the desired thickness, return the chicken to the oven proof dish.
Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
Remove the dish and let sit for about 5 minutes before serving. Top with fresh chopped parsley.
If you want to kick this recipe up a notch and make it a bit more fancy, you can add in the following:
- Fresh mushrooms
- Capers
You would simply add the fresh mushrooms and capers in when you add in the spinach and parsley!
Update Notes: This post was originally published in September of 2016, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions and tips in April of 2018.
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This recipe was originally written for Eazy Peazy Mealz.
This looks super tasty and gluten free too. I’d think I would add a splash of wine as you have
I love cooking with wine!! Enjoy!
This recipe calls for wine but I don’t see when it’s added, when did you add yours?
The white wine is added in step 6
Correct! The wine is in step 6!
This looks super delicious! I’m bookmarking it for later, cannot wait to try it when the weather gets worse – would make a perfect comfort food for rainy days 🙂
It is and is goes well with rice and mashed potatoes! That sauce mixed in is so amazing!
Chicken every Sunday was a saying at my home while growing up. Your recipe just made it so! Setting the oven & getting the ingredients out now! Thanks.
Nice! Let me know how you like it!
This dish looks so appealing! We eat a lot of chicken and I’m always looking for a new way to present that stand by meat. We’re experimenting with herbs now, so this fits several of my menu criteria. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you enjoy it! It’s super yummy and tastes better than it looks!
Great recipe..its simple and those pics are really tempting..I am totally trying this !!!
It’s so worth it and crazy simple! Enjoy!
I love butter chicken! The addition of lemon sounds absolutely delightful and your photos look YUMMY!!
Thanks so much, Jacquee! It is one of our favorites!!!
Would you suggest in the oven with lid on or off? Just got a RockCrock and trying it out…
Hi Megan! You are going to LOVE your RockCrock!!! Leave the top off while cooking the Lemon Butter Chicken. You want the sauce to thicken up as much as possible and having the top off will help that process happen. If you want another good recipe to make in the RockCrock – check out this Moroccan Skillet Chicken here: https://recipesworthrepeating.com/recipes/gluten-free/moroccan-skillet-chicken/
This looks amazing! And the sauce seems so flavorful- yummmm
The taste is ridiculous! It’s so flavorful and everyone in my house loves it!!
This chicken dish looks so amazing with the sauce. I would soooo dip some bread in it and shove the bread in my mouth. I can’t wait to try the recipe. Beautiful photos!!
Thank you! This is my number 2 popular dish on my site and it’s a huge crowd pleasure! I’ve had amazing reviews on this one! Enjoy it!
Wow Amanda! This look phenomenal. I absolutely adore that lemon cream sauce. It really makes this chicken irresisitble and I bet would taste wonderful on fish too.
Thanks! This one is delish! Yes – this would be great on fish! I’ll have to make that version next!
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I’m more of a dark meat chicken girl, and I think this would be awesome with chicken thighs
Yes- it is great with chicken thighs!! Definately tastes amazing with dark meat!!!
This looks lovely Amanda!
thanks! It’s a family favorite so enjoy!
Why does the ingredient list say 4in chicken breasts “cut half”? What do. You mean by ‘cut half’?
What I mean is thin sliced chicken breasts. The regular super thick chicken breasts stores sell today take forever to cook so I always buy thin sliced. If you can’t find those in the store, you can cut those regular “thick” sized chicken breasts in half. I hope that helps clarify things!
The recipe is delicious.
I used 2 thick chicken brests and splitted them butterfly like. Then instead of wite wine ( didn’t have any) used 1once red wine. Also added the capers. It turned up delicious, over white rice and garlic butter brusells sprouts.
Carmen – thank you SO much for taking the time to add this comment! Yes – this one is super super delish! And over rice with garlic brussel sprouts sounds like the perfect pairing!! So glad you loved it! Check out my other recipes here at Recipes Worth Repeating! You wont be dissapointed!
Ohh my goodness, this is Absolutely AMAZING!! I work nights so I had to make this morning for my family tonight and of course had to try it out first ;). Extremely flavorful, I think my family will LOVE it!!! Thank you! (I made in my Pampered Chef Rock Crock)
YEAH!! I’m SO glad you liked it! Yes – making it in the Pampered Chef Rock Crock is SO convenient!! I hope it becomes a family favorite for you guys!!
When do you add the splash of wine
Oopps! It goes in #6! I’ll add that in now!!
Do you take the spinach out once its wilted? And if so when do u add it back in? Or do u leave it in the whole time? Im in the middle of cooking this recipe and am not sure plzz help
Hi Christina!
Leave the spinach in there! It’s DELISH!!! Don’t take it out!!
This looks delicious. Is there anyway to cook this in an instant pot? If so, how?
I have not tried making this in my Instant Pot, but you should be able to just use the poultry option! I’d let the pressure release for a good 15 minutes on this one to ensure it’s done after it’s done pressurizing.
What cooking time would you suggest?
Not sure what you mean by this question. The cook times are in the recipe steps. Let me know if you need clarification on anything!
thanks so much! I have a Crock Pot express pot (like an Instant Pot) and it has a poultry option. The timer is for 15 min on poultry. So I was wondering if that would be the time needed to cook or if there should be more time.
I would “think” that would be a good enough time to cook it – not sure on the pressure release aspect…maybe 10 minutes? Try it and see!! Let me know how it turns out!!
Do you think this would be suitable to freeze?
So yummy
Yes – you can freeze these for sure!
This dish looks absolutely delectable!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy!
I just want to reach into the picture and eat it! Fantastic color!
My kids JUST at some butter chicken for the first time…but the sauce was from a jar. I would love to try this recipe!
You’re kids will love this dish! My recipe is better than the jar!
I meant they *ate* it…whoops!
I so pinned this! Sounds amazing!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks! I will definately check it out!
Wow. My mouth is watering from all the beautiful and eye-catching pictures. Gonna cook up some chicken soon! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy this recipe!
Hand me that pan and oh, a half a loaf of bread and I am in heaven!! This looks amazing!!!
Ha Ha! I couldn’t have said it better myself! Bread and butter is EXCELLENT with this dish!
This look amazingly delicious! Can’t wait to give it a try!
Let me know how you like it!
I was drooling reading this recipe. One I’m definitely going to try
Thanks! I hope you enjoy!
Congratulations!
Your post is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week, and we pinned it to our Features board. Enjoy your weekend and your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Awesome! Thanks Miz Helen!!!
This looks amazingly delicious and so simple to make! I will be adding this to my family’s meal plan this week.
I hope you guys enjoy!!
So so amazing! I made this with roasted red potatoes and asparagus. Then after dinner, my husband and I stood over the stove sopping up the rest of the sauce with French bread! I can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow! This will be on our weekly rotation from now on.
I am so glad you guys enjoyed it!! Yes!! That sauce is amazing and addicting! And guess what….it’s BETTER the next day! Enjoy!!!
Hello!
I tried this recipe last night and it was DELICIOUS!! My only question is, my sauce (no matter how many minutes I simmered it) was very runny. Do you have any suggestions or tips on how to thicken it up?
Thanks!
I love grabbing a piece of bread and absorbing the juice BUT if you want the sauce to be thicker, add in about 1 Tablespoon of Arrowroot or cornstarch…turn the heat up to bring to a boil and then simmer it down. That will thicken your sauce! Enjoy!!
This recipe is amazing. I found it on Pinterest and made it last night. My family absolutely loved it. Thank you!
Awesome!! Thank you for taking the time to send me a note that you guys loved it!! I hope you try more of my recipes!!!
This recipe is AMAZING!!!! I made it for the first time last night and it was such a hit with the family. They even thought it tasted like it came fresh out of a restaurant! I did have to add some cornstarch to the sauce to get it to thicken up, but overall! Highly HIGHLY recommend. This recipe is a keeper. I put this over pasta!
Thank you!! I’m so glad you liked it!! I love it over, pasta, rice and mashed potatoes!! Thank you for taking the time to let me know how you liked it!!
Delicious! I made this as a “I NEED DINNER QUICK” and the family loved it. I’m hosting a dinner party this weekend and this dish is on the menu!
Mary – thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to let me know that you loved the recipe!! I’m so glad your family liked it! I hope your dinner party goes GREAT!