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Easy One-Pan Lemon Butter Chicken and Green Beans

one-pan lemon butter chicken - featured image
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A quick and easy one-pan recipe featuring crispy chicken thighs, tender-crisp green beans, and a bright lemon butter sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 12 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 medium lemon
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt, pepper, and dried thyme. Set aside.
  2. Trim the stem ends from green beans, rinse under cold water, and dry thoroughly.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Warm until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
  4. Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the hot pan. Press gently to ensure even contact. Cook 6-7 minutes without moving until skin is golden and crispy.
  5. Flip chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on the other side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.
  6. Lower heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not brown.
  7. Pour in chicken broth and add lemon juice and zest. Scrape up browned bits from the pan bottom.
  8. Return chicken to the pan skin-side up and tuck green beans around the chicken.
  9. Add butter in small chunks and let melt into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover loosely, and simmer for about 10 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F internally and green beans are tender-crisp.
  10. Remove lid and cook uncovered for 2 more minutes to thicken sauce if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  11. Serve chicken and green beans with lemon butter sauce spooned over the top. Garnish with extra lemon zest or fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before seasoning for crispy skin. Do not move chicken while searing to develop a golden crust. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F. Avoid overcrowding the pan to prevent steaming. Adjust sauce thickness by simmering uncovered or adding broth if too thick.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pan, lemon butter chicken, green beans, quick dinner, weeknight meal, easy recipe, chicken thighs, healthy dinner

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/easy-one-pan-lemon-butter-chicken-and-green-beans-recipe-for-perfect-weeknight-dinner/