Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans

Here’s a recipe for a delicious Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Green Beans:

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

For the Green Beans:

• 1 pound green beans, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions:

For the Chicken:

1. Prepare the Chicken:
   • Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and paprika on both sides.
2. Cook the Chicken:
   • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
   • Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make the Sauce:
   • In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat.
   • Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
   • Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, thyme, basil, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer.
4. Combine and Simmer:
   • Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning some of the sauce over the top.
   • Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for about 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is heated through.
5. Garnish and Serve:
   • Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

For the Green Beans:

1. Prepare the Green Beans:
   • Trim the green beans and set aside.
2. Cook the Green Beans:
   • In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
   • Add the green beans and season with salt and pepper.
   • Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the green beans are tender-crisp.
3. Add Garlic and Lemon:
   • Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
   • Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the green beans and toss to coat.
4. Serve:
   • Serve the green beans alongside the chicken, spooning additional sauce over the top if desired.

Tips:

• You can use chicken thighs instead of breasts if you prefer.
• For a lower calorie option, you can use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
• Adjust the seasoning to your taste preferences.

Enjoy your Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Green Beans!