Creamy Lemon Chicken
It’s easy to make a restaurant-quality meal at home with this Lemon Chicken recipe. The sauce is creamy and flavorful with a hint of tang! Capers and spinach are optional additions to this meal as well.
Be sure to serve this with my Creamy Herb Pasta, Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Green Beans!
Creamy Lemon Chicken
Get ready to cook like a gourmet chef, because this recipe is better than what you will find in many restaurants. The sauce is SO flavorful and isn’t loaded with butter, but has a perfect blend of ingredients that is savory, creamy, and tangy.
The recipe makes plenty of sauce that can be served with a side of spaghetti as well, read on for everything you need to know!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Cut the chicken into 2 thinner slices. This cuts down on the pounding time. Place the chicken in a gallon freezer bag or in between saran wrap and pound it to 1/4 inch thin.
Pat dry and dredge in a seasoned flour/Parmesan mixture. Tap off excess. Heat olive oil and sear the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes per side. Set aside and leave brown remnants in the pan.
Add white wine and garlic and let it bubble gently for about 4 minutes, until reduced by half. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” the bottom of the pan.
Add chicken broth, chicken bouillon, and mustard powder. Bring to a gentle boil and let it reduce and concentrate for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
Stir in the cream and add the lemon juice. Slowly sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine. Add the chicken back and spoon sauce on top. Let the chicken heat through, the flour from the breading will thicken up the sauce more.
Optional: Boil up to 3/4 lb. spaghetti when the chicken is added back to the sauce. Drain. Place the chicken on serving plates and add the pasta to the pot with the sauce until desired pasta/sauce ratio is obtained.
Garnish with parsley and sliced lemon and serve!
Creamy Lemon Chicken vs. Chicken Piccata
- Unlike my Chicken Piccata recipe, which has more of a buttery wine reduction sauce, this creamy lemon chicken incorporates cream and Parmesan cheese for a creamier consistency.
Why Does Garlic Turn Blue
- Garlic that isn’t super fresh can turn blue when combined with acidic ingredients such as white wine or lemon juice.
- The good news is that it’s still safe to eat if the color does change.
- Try to use a fresh garlic clove to avoid this issue.
Pro Tips
- Parmesan Cheese: I use Belgioioso Parmesan cheese in this recipe and put 1 cup in the sauce. Some Parmesan cheese varieties may have a stronger taste, consider adding 1/2 cup at first, then add more if desired.
- Use the meat tenderizer to create a textured surface on the chicken. This gives the breading something to cling onto, which also gives you a nice sear. Pounding the chicken also makes it more tender.
- Chicken plumps up more when cooked so don’t be afraid to pound it thin.
- Fresh lemon juice is much more flavorful than bottled.
- Use fresh garlic (vs. jarred) if possible.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning: Redmond Real Salt lemon pepper seasoning is my favorite brand for seasoning this chicken, it also contains sea salt and has a lot of great flavor. (Use promo code ‘COZY‘ for 15% off!) Some brands (like McCormick) can be potent so be aware of that.
- Capers and/or spinach can be added to the sauce at the end of cooking if desired.
- 1/2 Cup chicken broth and 1 Tbsp. butter can be used instead of white wine if needed.
- Make sure the base of the sauce isn’t too hot when the cheese is added, otherwise the dairy can separate and the consistency can become grainy.
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 111!
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- This is the skillet I used in this recipe, (and in 90% of my recipes). It’s pricey, but it conducts heat really well and is oven safe. The size is perfect and the quality is great.
- Meat Tenderizer -This is key for pounding the chicken nice and thin, creating a textured surface on the meat which clings onto the breading, and it makes the chicken nice and tender.
- Kitchen Tongs– Makes it easy to handle the chicken when searing.
- Garlic Twister– Makes it quick & easy to mince garlic and it takes very little storage space.
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Creamy Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Lemon pepper seasoning, see notes
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Sauce
- ½ cup dry white wine, like chardonnay or pinot grigio
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream, at room temperature
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated. See notes.
- 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons cold salted butter, Optional
For Serving
- 3/4 lb. spaghetti, optional
To Garnish
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- Freshly sliced lemon
Instructions
Cut, Pound, Dredge, and Sear the Chicken:
- Slice the chicken in half to create 2 thinner slices. Place the chicken in a gallon freezer bag (or in between saran wrap) and use the textured side of a meat mallet to pound it to ½ inch thick.
- Season with lemon pepper seasoning. You may also season with salt if desired, the Redmond Real Salt brand of lemon pepper seasoning that I use already contains sea salt.
- Combine the flour, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder, on a large plate. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken dry and dredge each side in the flour mixture. Tap off excess.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes per side, until a golden crust has developed. Set aside and leave brown remnants in the pan.
Prepare the Sauce:
- Add the wine and garlic. Set heat to medium. Bubble gently for about 4 minutes, until the liquid has reduced by half. Use a silicone spatula to “clean” any remaining brown flecks on the pan while the wine reduces and incorporate it into the liquid for more flavor.
- Add the chicken broth, chicken bouillon, and mustard powder. Bring to a gentle boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes or so, to thicken and concentrate the flavor. Reduce heat to low.
- Add the heavy cream slowly, stirring continuously.
- Stir in the lemon juice and slowly sprinkle in the Parmesan, stirring continuously, until combined. Add the chicken back and let the chicken warm through.
- Optional: Swirl in 2 Tbsp. cold butter to give the sauce a smooth, velvety finish.
To Serve with Pasta:
- Boil up to 3/4 lb. of spaghetti once the chicken is added back to the sauce. Drain.
- Remove chicken and set on serving plates. Use kitchen tongs to add the spaghetti to the pot with the sauce until your desired sauce/pasta ratio is obtained. Toss to coat. (OR, serve this with my easy Buttered Noodles.)
- Garnish with parsley and lemon slices and serve!
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Parmesan Cheese: I use Belgioioso Parmesan cheese in this recipe and put 1 cup in the sauce. Some Parmesan cheese varieties may have a stronger taste, consider adding 1/2 cup at first, then add more if desired.
- Use the meat tenderizer to create a textured surface on the chicken. This gives the breading something to cling onto, which also gives you a nice sear. Pounding the chicken also makes it more tender.
- Chicken plumps up more when cooked so don't be afraid to pound it thin.
- Fresh lemon juice is much more flavorful than bottled.
- Use fresh garlic (vs. jarred) if possible.
- Lemon Pepper Seasoning: Redmond Real Salt lemon pepper seasoning is my favorite brand for seasoning this chicken, it also contains sea salt and has a lot of great flavor. (Use promo code ‘COZY‘ for 15% off!) Some brands (like McCormick) can be potent so be aware of that.
- Capers and/or spinach can be added to the sauce at the end of cooking if desired.
- 1/2 Cup chicken broth and 1 Tbsp. butter can be used instead of white wine if needed.
- Be sure to serve this with my easy Roasted Asparagus!
- This recipe is in The Cozy Cookbook on page 111!
Nutritional facts do not include the optional 3/4 lb. spaghetti.
I have a sodium restriction so I used very low sodium chicken broth and got thin chicken cutlets, used unsalted butter, used herb ox no sodium chicken bouillon and increased the garlic to 6 cloves. Flavor was great.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this Kathy! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!💗
I added lemon zest to mine. As husband ate this delicious dinner he kept saying mmm, this is a keeper. Ready to have it again. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I LOVE that you added lemon zest, definitely a nice touch Melissa, I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, thank you for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
made this and was absolutely besutiful
Yayyy! That makes me so happy madelaine, thanks so much for the great review!💖
Hi, does the parmesan cheese in this recipe really stand out in taste? I’m going to make it but some of my family does not care for parmesan.
Hi Vanessa, a cup of Parmesan cheese does come through in the taste, the potency also depends on the variety that you’re using. You can add 1/4 cup to start if you’d like and then taste and add more if preferred. I also have a Chicken Piccata recipe that doesn’t have any Parmesan cheese (except in the breading of the chicken, which you can omit)!
This is the second time I have made this and it never disappoints! So juicy and flavourful! The parmesan and lemon give it a great punch! I added in some steamed broccoli and green beans and served with mashed potatoes. Perfect comfort food and I had all the ingredients in the house!
I’m so happy you’re enjoying this one Kelly! It’s one of my husband’s favorite dishes! I love that you added broccoli and green beans, and a side of mashed potatoes is perfect. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such great comments!😀
This recipe has become a family favorite! My kids actually asked why don’t we have this meal more often! WIN
This makes me so happy to hear Casey! Sounds like you’re doing a great job with it if that’s what the kids are saying. Thanks so much for the great comments and review!💖
This recipe is so delicious! My husband said he felt like he was eating a summer meal in Italy ! It was absolutely delicious !
Wow such a great compliment from your husband Karen, nice work!😃 Thanks so much for the great comments and review!
So delicious! My kids requested this numerous times. It’s become a family favorite. Thank you!
You’re very welcome Erika, I’m so happy this is a family favorite! Sounds like you’re onto something when the kids keep requesting it!🙌 Thanks so much for the great review!
Hi, I’m planning to make this recipe but I live in Asia and can’t find any kind of bouillon cubes. What could I use a substitute? Thanks!
It just adds a more concentrated flavor to the sauce, there isn’t a substitute but you can simmer the sauce a little longer to concentrate it. Before the cheese is added. ☺️
This is one of my family’s favorite recipes. I sometimes add shallots after I have browned the chicken and before the garlic. I like the sauce but my family likes it a little thicker. I have also tried it by making a roux before adding the chicken broth. Both ways are great.
I’m so happy your family is enjoying this one Lisa! It’s one of my husband’s favorite recipes. Thanks so much for the great review!❤️