Italian Lemon Chicken Fast Recipe
If you’ve ever found yourself craving a zesty, comforting meal but only have twenty minutes to spare, Italian Lemon Chicken Fast is the answer to your prayers. This dish captures the sunshine-bright flavors of southern Italy, infusing tender chicken breasts with a vibrant, garlicky lemon sauce that’s both elegant and incredibly simple to make. Whether you’re pulling together a weeknight dinner or impressing last-minute guests, you’ll love how quick, light, and full of flavor this Italian Lemon Chicken Fast is—especially when served with your favorite fresh sides.

Ingredients You’ll Need
With just a handful of fresh, wholesome ingredients, you can create a restaurant-quality Italian Lemon Chicken Fast right in your kitchen. Each element plays a starring role: from the burst of citrus to fragrant herbs, everything here works together beautifully for a dish that looks as gorgeous as it tastes.
- Chicken breasts: Go for boneless, skinless for speed—these become melt-in-your-mouth tender in the lemony sauce.
- Salt: Just enough to make all the flavors come alive without overpowering the delicate lemon.
- Black pepper: For that gentle heat and peppery aroma that highlights the dish’s fresh flavors.
- Italian seasoning: The classic blend that gives this recipe a savory backbone and irresistible aroma.
- Olive oil: Use extra-virgin if you can for richness and to keep things healthy.
- Garlic: Don’t skimp—three cloves give a fabulous kick and round out the lemon’s brightness.
- Chicken broth: Builds a savory, layered base for your sauce, capturing all those seared chicken flavors left in the pan.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice: Skip the bottled stuff; fresh juice is what gives this Italian Lemon Chicken Fast its signature zing.
- Lemon zest: Adds a fragrant, floral perfume—zest before juicing for best results!
- Butter: Just a pat swirled in at the end makes the sauce silky, luscious, and utterly irresistible.
- Fresh parsley: The final green flourish; adds a pop of color and clean, herbaceous flavor.
- Lemon slices: Serve as garnish to make your plate look as sunny as it tastes.
How to Make Italian Lemon Chicken Fast
Step 1: Season the Chicken
Start by patting your chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, pressing gently to help the herbs and spices stick. This quick seasoning step anchors the flavors before your chicken even hits the pan!
Step 2: Sear the Chicken Breasts
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and let them sizzle undisturbed for 4–5 minutes on each side, until beautifully golden and fully cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate and keep warm—don’t worry about any bits left in the pan, they’re flavor gold for your sauce.
Step 3: Infuse the Garlic
Without cleaning the skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add your minced garlic. Stir it for just about 30 seconds until you can smell that delicious aroma. Be watchful: garlic cooks fast and you want it just fragrant, not browned.
Step 4: Make the Lemon Sauce
Pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the pan. This not only cleans the pan but also means maximum flavor in every bite. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes so it slightly thickens and all those lemony flavors blend.
Step 5: Enrich the Sauce and Finish
Swirl in the butter until it melts into the sauce, creating a glossy, velvety finish. Return the chicken breasts (and any collected juices) to the skillet, spooning the sauce generously over the top. Simmer together for another 2–3 minutes, letting your Italian Lemon Chicken Fast soak up every bit of that luscious sauce.
How to Serve Italian Lemon Chicken Fast

Garnishes
For a finishing touch that wows, scatter chopped fresh parsley over the chicken right before serving. Lay a couple of thin lemon slices on each piece for extra color and an eye-catching, citrusy garnish. These pops of green and yellow brighten the plate and make it extra inviting.
Side Dishes
Italian Lemon Chicken Fast is a versatile centerpiece that shines alongside angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil, roasted spring vegetables, or a simple arugula salad with parmesan. Each option brings a different texture and lets that tangy sauce work its magic. Crusty bread to soak up every drop is never a bad idea!
Creative Ways to Present
For a fresh spin, try slicing the chicken and fanning it over a bed of sautéed greens or lemony risotto. You could even tuck it into toasted ciabatta for a warm sandwich, or lay thin slices atop a platter of grilled veggies for a charming, buffet-style meal. However you share Italian Lemon Chicken Fast, it always looks and tastes special.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Let any leftover Italian Lemon Chicken Fast cool before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days—the bright flavors hold up beautifully, and the chicken stays juicy thanks to the tangy sauce.
Freezing
You can freeze Italian Lemon Chicken Fast by placing cooled portions (with a little extra sauce) into freezer-safe bags or containers. Press out as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn, and store for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, gently warm the chicken and sauce in a covered skillet over low heat, adding a splash of extra broth or water if needed to loosen the sauce. Avoid high heat to keep the chicken from drying out—you want all those delicious flavors to stay vibrant.
FAQs
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless thighs work just as well in Italian Lemon Chicken Fast. They might take an extra minute or two to cook through but will be wonderfully juicy in the sauce.
Is it possible to make this dish dairy-free?
Yes, you can omit the butter or substitute it with a dairy-free alternative like vegan butter or a tiny splash of extra olive oil. You’ll still get a rich, glossy sauce and classic Italian Lemon Chicken Fast flavor.
Can I prepare the dish in advance?
You can make Italian Lemon Chicken Fast a day ahead, storing everything together in the fridge. The lemon flavor actually deepens a little overnight—just reheat gently to keep the chicken moist.
What’s the best way to get lemon zest without bitterness?
Use a microplane or fine grater to remove only the yellow outer layer of the lemon; avoid the white pith underneath as it can add bitterness. Zest before squeezing the juice for easiest handling.
Does this work with other proteins?
Definitely! Try the same method with thin pork cutlets or even shrimp for a quick, zesty twist. Just adjust cooking times as needed to keep it fast and flavorful.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly magical about a dish that’s this fast and bursting with flavor—which is why I come back to Italian Lemon Chicken Fast time and again. Give it a try the next time you want a dinner that’s bright, satisfying, and effortlessly impressive. I just know you’ll love it as much as I do!
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Italian Lemon Chicken Fast Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
Italian Lemon Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. With a zesty lemon sauce, this skillet chicken is easy to make and pairs well with pasta or vegetables.
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon Sauce:
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon butter
Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Make the Lemon Sauce: In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest, stirring to deglaze the pan. Let the sauce simmer for 2–3 minutes, then stir in the butter until melted and smooth.
- Finish Cooking: Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer for another 2–3 minutes, spooning sauce over the top.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with parsley and lemon slices before serving.
Notes
- Serve with angel hair pasta, roasted vegetables, or a simple arugula salad.
- For extra richness, stir in a splash of cream before adding the chicken back to the pan.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 115mg