Description
Discover the perfect lemon spinach chicken dish, packed with Mediterranean flavors and ready in just 30 minutes. This one-pan meal features tender chicken, fresh spinach, and a creamy lemon Parmesan sauce for a quick, nutritious, and delicious dinner.
Ingredients
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – 4 (1-1/2 to 2 pounds total)
- Lemon (Juice and Zest) – 1 lemon
- Garlic, Minced – 3 cloves
- Heavy Cream – 1/2 cup
- Parmesan Cheese, Grated – 1/4 cup
- Fresh Baby Spinach – 4 cups
- Chicken Broth – 1 cup
- Olive Oil – 2 tablespoons
- Butter – 2 tablespoons
- Salt and Black Pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken:
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness for even cooking.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Cook the Chicken:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove chicken and set aside.
- Create the Sauce:
- Reduce heat to medium and add butter to the skillet.
- Sauté garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and zest. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Whisk until slightly thickened (2-3 minutes).
- Incorporate Spinach:
- Add fresh spinach to the sauce. Stir until wilted (1-2 minutes).
- Combine and Serve:
- Return the chicken to the skillet. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors.
Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan and lemon slices if desired.
Notes
- Flatten chicken evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Use fresh Parmesan for optimal flavor and texture.
- Zest the lemon before juicing for easier preparation.
- Customize with white wine, herbs like oregano or basil, or a dairy-free cream alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: One-Pan Skillet
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 402 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg