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Lemon chicken with asparagus and caramelized lemon slices on a plate

Lemon Chicken with Asparagus and Caramelized Lemon

Lemon Chicken with Asparagus and Caramelized Lemon is a quick skillet meal with tender chicken, crisp-tender asparagus, and bright caramelized citrus flavor. It is an easy choice for a fresh, flavorful weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 3 (nutrition is for 4 servings)
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 232
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
Vegetables and Lemon
  • 1-2 cups chopped asparagus
  • 2 lemons, sliced
Optional Toppings
  • 2 tablespoons honey + 2 tablespoons butter (optional, see FAQ notes)
  • parsley for topping (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cover the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound them until each piece is about 3/4 inch thick. If the breasts are very thick, slice them horizontally into thinner pieces instead.
  2. Place the flour, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish and coat each chicken breast lightly, shaking off any excess.
Cooking
  1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, adding the lemon pepper seasoning directly to each side while it cooks.
  2. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate once it is golden brown and cooked through.
  3. Add the chopped asparagus to the skillet and sauté for a few minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Remove the asparagus and set it aside.
  4. Place the lemon slices flat in the skillet and cook for a few minutes on each side without stirring so they caramelize and pick up the browned bits from the pan. Remove the lemon slices and set them aside.
Assembly
  1. Return the asparagus to the skillet, place the chicken over it, and arrange the caramelized lemon slices on top.
Serving
  1. Finish with parsley for topping if desired.

Notes

For the best texture, keep the chicken pieces evenly thin before cooking and remove the asparagus once it reaches a tender-crisp texture.