Description
Zesty lemon chicken and asparagus skillet brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. Juicy chicken and tender asparagus create a perfect harmony of fresh, tangy notes you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Herbs and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Vegetables:
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
Cooking Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken by seasoning with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, searing for 6-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate, keeping it warm.
- In the same skillet, add trimmed asparagus and cook for 3-4 minutes, maintaining a crisp-tender texture.
- Remove asparagus and set aside with the chicken.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and pour in heavy cream and chicken broth.
- Whisk in Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese, stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Return chicken and asparagus to the skillet, gently coating with the creamy sauce.
- Simmer everything together for an additional 2-3 minutes to meld flavors and reheat ingredients.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and lemon slices before serving.
- Plate and enjoy the creamy, tangy chicken and asparagus skillet while hot.
Notes
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts of similar size for even cooking and consistent texture.
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels before seasoning to ensure a perfect golden-brown sear and prevent steaming.
- Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking to promote more uniform heating.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when searing chicken to maintain high heat and achieve beautiful caramelization.
- Use fresh asparagus with firm, bright green stalks for the best flavor and crisp-tender texture.
- Adjust sauce consistency by adding more chicken broth if too thick or simmering longer if too thin.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or Greek yogurt.
- Quickly zest lemon before juicing to capture maximum citrus flavor and aromatic oils.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg