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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Lemon Basil Chicken

    Modified: May 30, 2023 · Published: Jan 12, 2021 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. · 2 Comments

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    This Lemon Basil Chicken comes together in no time and is made using only ONE pan! Healthy, flavorful, and budget friendly… perfect for mealtime!

    chicken and basil cooked with lemon juice in a skillet

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    Don’t you just love one pan meals? Cleaning up is a breeze and the dinner itself comes together in no time! This Lemon Basil Chicken is just that and a new family favorite!

    Last week, I was trying to come up with something for dinner. I had taken some chicken out of the freezer, so at least I was headed in the right direction. After going through my refrigerator and pantry, I realized I had some basil to use up from when I had made my Tomato Basil Chicken earlier in the week (another great recipe).

    Since I also wanted to add a veggie in, I chose to go the spinach route and this dish was created in no time! If you want to add in some more veggies, feel free to make this your own!

    The best part about this dish was I was able to use some fresh lemons from my backyard. My hubby and I purchased a Lemon patio tree this past summer and although small, it produced enough lemons for me to use in this! Quite exciting as I have a terrible experience typically keeping plants alive, ha-ha! Using fresh lemons to make your lemon chicken will provide the best results! 

    This scrumptious chicken recipe holds tons of delicious flavors in its simple marinade. If you want to make it a complete meal, see the side dish ideas below! There are plenty of easy recipes to whip up something quick for those busy weeknight dinners!

    diced chicken, lemon juice, and fresh Basil cooked in a one pan skillet

    Jump to:
    •  Ingredients Needed
    • Lemon Basil Chicken Directions
    • Storing Leftover Lemon Basil Chicken
    • Lemon Basil Chicken Variation
    • Side Dishes to Pair with Lemon Basil Chicken
    • Other Chicken Based Recipes
    • Lemon Basil Chicken

     Ingredients Needed

    • Olive oil
    • Onion
    • Garlic cloves, minced
    • Skinless, boneless chicken breast 
    • Soy sauce
    • Black pepper
    • Baby spinach *fresh is best
    • Lemon zest
    • Fresh lemon juice
    • Fresh basil leaves (not dried)
    • Kosher salt

    *For exact measurements see the recipe card below

     

    Lemon Basil Chicken Directions

    1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
    2. Add in the onion and allow to sauté for about 3-4 minutes.
    3. Add in the minced garlic clove and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
    4. Add in the chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes, until the cooked chicken is slightly browned on all sides.
    5. Pour in the soy sauce, lemon juice, zest, salt, and pepper to season chicken and cook for about 2 minutes to get the perfect texture and flavor.
    6. Serve and enjoy!

     

    Storing Leftover Lemon Basil Chicken

    Store in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator. If stored properly, your lemon basil chicken will last up to three to four days.

     

    Lemon Basil Chicken Variation

    Next time if you want to make this more of a creamy lemon basil chicken, you can add some skim milk and a little butter to create a creamy lemon basil sauce.

     

    Side Dishes to Pair with Lemon Basil Chicken

    I served this with my Garlic Parmesan Crescent Rolls and some fresh pineapple I had on hand. You can choose which sides you prefer to serve with this though! Here are a few more side dish ideas!

    • Simple garden salad
    • Sautéed veggies of your choice (like fresh asparagus)
    • Garlic and Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
    • Fresh green beans

     

    Other Chicken Based Recipes

    The following are easy dinners the whole family will love—especially if you love great chicken recipes!

    • Ranch Chicken Bake
    • Chicken Pot Pie Muffins
    • Garlic Herb Chicken Kabobs
    • Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sliders

     

    I hope you love this easy lemon basil chicken recipe! Let me know what you think in the comments below! Don’t forget to tag me over on Instagram if you’ve made this recipe (or any of the others) so I can see what you’ve cooked up! You can also use #thecookinchicks too!

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

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    Lemon Basil Chicken

    Recipe by: Kristin
    This Lemon Basil Chicken comes together in no time and is made using only ONE pan! Healthy, flavorful, and budget friendly...perfect for mealtime!
    4.41 from 5 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 4
    Calories 329 kcal

    Equipment

    • Zester
    • Citrus Juicer
    • Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 6 garlic cloves, minced
    • 2 lbs chicken breast *boneless/skinless, diced
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 6 cups baby spinach *fresh is best
    • 2 tablespoon lemon zest
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 cups Basil leaves *fresh, not dried
    • 1 teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.
    • Add in the onion and allow to saute for about 3-4 minutes.
    • Add in the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
    • Add in the chicken and cook about 5 minutes, until slightly browned on all sides.
    • Pour in the soy sauce, lemon juice, zest, salt, and pepper and cook about 2 minutes.
    • Add the spinach in slowly and allow to cook down, about 3 minutes.
    • Lastly, add in the Basil and stir until slightly wilted.
    • Season dish with additional salt and pepper if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 51gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 1385mgPotassium: 1203mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 4921IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 96mgIron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

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      Chicken Zucchini Casserole
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    Comments

    1. Mindy says

      January 24, 2021 at 5:39 pm

      when do you add the lemon juice and zest?

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        January 25, 2021 at 8:58 am

        Whoops, good catch! I have updated the recipe to include that!

        Reply
    4.41 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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