Lemon Chicken

This easy lemon chicken recipe starts with a crispy breadcrumb coating and ends with a drizzle of savory lemon garlic butter sauce.

  • Total 28 minutes
  • Serves 4 servings
  • Dinner
  • American
Jump to the recipe
Close up photo of Lemon Chicken in a skillet

This easy lemon chicken recipe starts with a crispy breadcrumb coating and ends with a drizzle of savory lemon garlic butter sauce.

Skillet of Lemon Chicken more

Why this recipe works

Panko breaded lemon chicken breast kissed with a vibrant lemon garlic butter sauce is far from your boring everyday chicken breast. The crispy breadcrumb coating here helps this dish stand out in the ocean of lemon chicken recipes out there.

Serve this beauty up chicken parmesan style over a bed of buttered noodles or pair it with garlic mashed potatoes on the side. Your choice!

Spatula holding up Lemon Chicken

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredients for Lemon Chicken

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

CHICKEN – You’ll want to pound the chicken breast with a meat mallet for even thickness throughout. Otherwise the chicken may cook at different rates in the pan. Cook to an internal temperature of 165F on an instant read thermometer.

SAUCE – We use a concentrated buillon base for most of our recipes instead of broth or stock. It’s convenient, takes up a lot less space, and is easily reconstituted with water. You can certainly use broth or stock instead.

How to Make Lemon Chicken

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

  1. Trim chicken breasts and pound them with a meat mallet to achieve an even thickness.pounding chicken breast with a meat mallet
  2. To one of the breading trays add flour, panko bread crumbs, garlic salt, and lemon pepper. Stir to combine well.
  3. To the second breading tray add the egg and a tablespoon of water. Whisk well.
  4. Place chicken breast into egg mixture and coat on both sides. Lift and allow excess to drip off before placing in the flour mixture.chicken breast in egg mixture inside a breading tray
  5. Turn the chicken over and gently press to coat.chicken breast coating in breadcrumb mixture in a breading tray
  6. To the skillet, add enough cooking oil to come about 1/2-inch up the sides of the pan. Heat oil over medium-high until it reaches a temperature of 350 F.
  7. Cook chicken in hot oil until both sides are nicely browned and the internal temperature reaches 165 F. Move chicken to a wire rack to rest while you make the sauce.pan fried lemon chicken breast in a skillet of oil
  8. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
  9. Add minced garlic and saute for 1 minute.
  10. Add the chicken base and lemon juice and bring to a boil.hand holding chicken base over melted butter in a saucepanhand holding lemon juice over a saucepan of melted butter
  11. Make a slurry by combining the cornstarch and water. Add to the saucepan and continue cooking until the sauce begins to thicken.easy lemon garlic butter sauce in a saucepan
  12. Drizzle sauce over chicken and serve.

    OPTIONAL – you can place the chicken back into a clean skillet and add the sauce. Simmer for a few minutes to heat through.fried lemon chicken breasts in a pan of lemon garlic butter sauce

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

How do you store leftover lemon chicken?

Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat your lemon chicken in a skillet with a dash of oil or pop it in the air fryer using the reheat function to maintain the same crispy texture. If you know you will have leftovers, I would suggest keeping the chicken separate from the sauce so it does not get soggy.

Close up image of Lemon Chicken in a skillet

Serving Suggestions

Serve your lemon chicken over a bed of mashed potatoes or noodles with extra lemon sauce spooned on top. It goes great with a side salad and roasted veggies as well. Enjoy!

More Chicken Recipes

I love to bake and cook and share my kitchen experience with all of you! Remembering to come back each day can be tough, that’s why I offer a convenient newsletter every time a new recipe posts. Simply subscribe and start receiving your free daily recipes!