Name: Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts; Salt and pepper to taste; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon garlic, minced; Red pepper flakes to taste; 1/4 cup heavy cream; Lemon wedges; Fresh parsley

If you're craving something comfortingly elegant but quick to whip up, this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe is exactly what you need. It hits that perfect balance of tangy lemon, rich cream, and savory garlic — trust me, you’re going to want to make this your go-to weeknight dinner.

lemon garlic chicken - The image shows three pieces of cooked chicken placed on a white bowl, each piece topped with a small slice of lemon. The chicken is covered with a light brown sauce that looks shiny and smooth, with bits of black pepper and small green herbs scattered on top. The sauce pools around the chicken pieces, adding a glossy finish. The background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe has been one of my favorite dinners to make when I want something fancy without the fuss. The flavors meld beautifully, and the creamy sauce makes the chicken incredibly moist and flavorful every time.

Quick and Easy: You can have this full meal on the table in just 20 minutes — perfect for busy evenings.
Rich but Bright Flavors: The lemon juice adds a fresh zing that cuts through the creamy garlic sauce beautifully.
Simple Ingredients: Nothing complicated here, just staples you probably already have in your kitchen.
Versatile Serving Options: It pairs well with so many sides, making it perfect for any occasion, from casual dinners to special get-togethers.

lemon garlic chicken - The image shows several cooked chicken pieces, each topped with a small lemon slice and sprinkled with chopped green herbs. The chicken has a shiny, slightly browned surface with a light golden color and some black pepper visible. There is a light sauce around the chicken, which adds a glossy look and pools gently under the pieces. The background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe plays a key role in building those layers of flavor. I’ve found that using fresh lemon juice and real garlic really elevates the sauce, while butter and heavy cream give it that silky texture you just can’t beat.

lemon garlic chicken - Flat lay of four plump, raw boneless skinless chicken breasts with smooth pale pink skin, fresh bright yellow lemon halves and wedges showing juicy pulp, a small pile of finely minced white garlic cloves, a few dollops of rich golden butter, glossy green sprigs of fresh parsley, a small heap of golden honey glistening under the light, scattered red pepper flakes adding tiny red specks, and a thin stream of clear golden olive oil arranged naturally with soft shadows, placed on white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Pounding them to an even thickness helps them cook evenly and stay juicy.
Butter and olive oil: The combo creates a perfect sear on the chicken without burning, adding richness and flavor.
Chicken broth: Adds depth to the sauce, making it more savory and balanced.
Lemon juice: Brightens and cuts through the richness of the cream – fresh is best here for zing.
Honey: Balances the tartness of lemon with a subtle sweetness.
Minced garlic: A must-have for that aromatic punch.
Heavy cream: Creates the luscious texture that thickens the sauce and makes it dreamy.
Red pepper flakes: Adds just a hint of heat to keep things interesting.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning – don’t skip this step!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tweaking this recipe to fit whatever mood I’m in or what’s in my fridge. Feel free to play around with the flavors and make this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe your own!

Variation: Sometimes I swap out chicken breasts for thighs when I want an even juicier result – just adjust the cooking time slightly to avoid undercooking.
Low-carb: Skip the honey or use a sugar substitute if you’re watching carbs, the sauce still tastes amazing.
Add extra herbs: Fresh thyme or rosemary stirred into the sauce can add a lovely earthy note.
Mushroom boost: I often toss sliced mushrooms into the pan before making the sauce for some lovely umami depth.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Pound the Chicken

Start by wrapping your chicken breasts in plastic wrap and pounding them out to about ½-inch thickness. This is a game changer because it helps the chicken cook evenly and stay tender—no more dry edges! Once pounded, pat them dry with paper towels, then generously season both sides with salt and pepper. This seasoning step makes all the difference in flavor.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

Heat butter and olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. The butter gives richness, while the olive oil helps keep it from burning. Once sizzling, add your chicken breasts and let them sear undisturbed for about 5 minutes so they develop a beautiful golden crust. Then flip to the other side, cover the pan, turn the heat down to medium, and cook for another 10 minutes or until the internal temp hits 165°F. This slower finish keeps the chicken moist inside.

Step 3: Make the Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

Remove the cooked chicken and set it aside. Now, pour in the chicken broth, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes into the same skillet—scraping up those irresistible browned bits stuck to the pan. This is flavor gold. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly, then stir in the heavy cream. The sauce should be silky and fragrant at this point.

Step 4: Coat the Chicken and Serve

Return the chicken to the skillet, spooning the sauce over each piece so they’re nicely coated and soak up all that lemon-garlic goodness. Serve hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon wedges and a sprinkle of chopped parsley if you’re feeling fancy. I like to pair this with some roasted veggies or rice for a complete meal.

Top Tip

After making this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe many times, I've learned a few tricks that really help it shine every time.

Pound for perfect cooking: Even thickness means juicy, evenly cooked chicken—don’t skip this step!
Don’t rush the sear: Let the chicken develop a golden crust undisturbed before flipping to lock in flavor and moisture.
Scrape the pan fond: Those browned bits are packed with flavor and make your sauce taste next level.
Adjust seasoning after sauce thickens: Taste and add salt or more lemon juice if needed before serving.

How to Serve Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe

lemon garlic chicken - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love finishing this dish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for color and a wedge of lemon on the side for extra zing. Sometimes I add a little cracked black pepper on top right before serving—it wakes up the flavors beautifully.

Side Dishes

This sauce goes great with simple sides like garlic mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus, or even a light arugula salad. For a cozy meal, I often serve it with buttery rice pilaf or creamy polenta — the sauce soaks right in!

Creative Ways to Present

For special dinners, I like to plate the chicken slices fanned over a bed of sautéed spinach, drizzled generously with the sauce, and garnished with lemon curls made with a vegetable peeler. A sprinkle of toasted pine nuts adds a delightful crunch that always impresses guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftover chicken and sauce together in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce thickens as it chills, so just warm it gently and stir in a little chicken broth or cream if it feels too thick when reheating.

Freezing

While the sauce is best fresh, I have frozen leftovers successfully by placing chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container. Just thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently. The lemon flavor softens a bit but it’s still lovely.

Reheating

Reheat this chicken gently on the stove over low-medium heat to avoid breaking the sauce. Add a splash of cream or broth if needed to bring back that silky texture. The flavors meld even better the next day — always a win!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts in this recipe?

Yes! Chicken thighs work wonderfully in this recipe and tend to stay juicier. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time slightly, as thighs may take a bit longer to cook through.

How can I make this recipe dairy-free?

To make a dairy-free version, substitute the butter with olive oil or coconut oil and use coconut cream or a dairy-free heavy cream alternative instead of heavy cream. This will give you a similar creamy texture and delicious flavor.

Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?

Absolutely! This Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe reheats well and can be portioned out for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week. Just store the chicken and sauce together in airtight containers.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

You can prepare the sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it, but I recommend adding the cream right before serving for the best texture and flavor. Reheat gently and stir the cream in when warm.

Final Thoughts

This Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe is one I keep returning to because it feels like a secret homemade restaurant dish but comes together so simply. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—nothing beats that moment when you taste the sauce and it hits all the right notes. So go ahead, give this recipe a try and make it your next family favorite!