Are you looking for an easy, healthy one-pot recipe that delivers big flavors? Look no further than this Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet. It’s the ideal solution on busy evenings when you want something homemade yet don’t have much time.
The recipe features boneless chicken breasts cooked until tender in a sautéed vegetable medley. A quick lemon garlic butter sauce ties it all together for a nourishing meal with distinct bright, savory flavors. Best of all, it’s ready in 30 minutes from start to finish.
Ingredients
While simple to prepare, this skillet meal gets deep flavor from a selection of fresh ingredients.
Protein: Chicken Breasts
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the lean protein base. About 1-1.5 pounds serves 4 comfortably. Feel free to use bone-in pieces too for extra juiciness.
Vegetables
- Green beans – Fiber, vitamins, nutrients
- Cherry tomatoes – Antioxidants, acidity
- You can substitute other veggies like broccoli, squash or peppers
Sauces
- Butter – Creaminess, fat for cookin
- Lemon juice – Bright acidity
- Garlic – Subtle savory flavor
- Chicken broth or stock – Moisture
Seasonings
Salt, black pepper and optional red pepper flakes to taste.
Preparation
The preparation is straight-forward for this satisfying skillet meal. Total hands-on time is around 30 minutes.
Prepping Ingredients
Trim ends off green beans and cut into 1-inch lengths. Halve cherry tomatoes. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.
Browning the Chicken
Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil or butter and sear chicken pieces until no longer pink inside, about 7-8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Adding Vegetables
Add green beans to the skillet and cook 5 minutes. Then mix in cherry tomatoes and cook 2 more minutes.
Making the Sauce
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk together as butter melts to form an emulsified sauce.
Nutrition Information
This versatile skillet provides essential vitamins, minerals and protein in one satisfying meal:
- Protein: Chicken breasts contain around 25g per 3oz serving.
- Antioxidants: Lemons and tomatoes add vitamin C, bioflavonoids.
- Vitamins: Green beans provide dietary fiber, vitamins A, C and K.
- Healthy fats: Sautéing in butter adds beneficial monounsaturated fat.
- Garlic health: Compounds like allicin have anti-inflammatory properties.
Serving Suggestions
Try these accompaniments with the skillet:
- Over rice or noodles to soak up extra sauce
- Warmed crusty bread for dipping
- Grated or shaved parmesan cheese
- Baby spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
- Homemade Greek yogurt as a cooling sauce
It also packs well for lunches and makes tasty leftovers for busy mornings.
Tips
- Cooking times may vary slightly based on stove, skillet size.
- Swap chicken for shrimp, salmon or tofu chunks
- Add other veggies like asparagus, broccoli or spinach
- Toss with pasta for a complete meal
- Leftovers keep well 3-4 days in fridge.
Variations
Get creative with customized tweaks:
- Pesto or coconut milk sauce in place of lemon butter
- Diced olives or crumbled feta for Mediterranean flair
- Cajun seasoning blend or curry powder for global flavors
- Balsamic or citrus acid in place of lemon
Conclusion
Whether following the basic recipe or making it your own, this skillet delivers speedy home cooking at its best. The fresh, bright flavors of lemons and garlic dancing with tender vegetables and protein make it a satisfying meal even on busy weeknights. So say goodbye to takeout and say hello to this nourishing one-pan wonder.