Broiled Chicken Breasts With Lemon Butter Sauce

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/8/21
Broiled chicken with lemon and green onions.
Diana Rattray
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings

These great tasting chicken breasts are broiled to perfection in the oven and then served with the flavorful lemon and butter sauce. The chicken makes a light and easy meal that will fit into just about any meal plan or diet. Serve the chicken with hot cooked rice, quinoa, baked or mashed potatoes, or noodles. Or, if you are following a keto or low carb diet, serve the chicken with cauliflower rice or mashed cauliflower. Add a side salad or green vegetable for a satisfying everyday meal. Brussels sprouts, green beans, and English peas are excellent options.

The recipe is easily scaled up for a larger family or dinner party.

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless chicken breasts

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

  • 2 green onions, chopped, white and light green separated from dark green

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for broiled chicken breasts and lemon butter sauce.
    Diana Rattray

  2. Position the oven rack about 5 to 6 inches below the broiler element and then preheat the broiler. Line a baking pan or broiler pan with foil and place a rack in the pan. Oil the rack.

  3. Pat the chicken breasts with paper towels to dry. Put a chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and gently pound with a meat mallet or another type of heavy object (e.g., a rolling pin, can of vegetables, a heavy skillet or saucepan, etc.) to thin to an even thickness. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts. Alternatively, if the chicken breasts are large, slice each one horizontally to make 2 cutlets.

    Flatten the chicken breasts.
    Diana Rattray

  4. Arrange the chicken breasts on the oiled broiler rack. Rub the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

    Chicken breasts on a rack.
    Diana Rattray

  5. In a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; place the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30 seconds. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed. Set aside.

    Lemon butter sauce for broiled chicken.
    Diana Rattray

  6. Broil the chicken for about 12 to 15 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking time. Drizzle each chicken breast with about 1 teaspoon of the lemon butter mixture about 1 minute before it's finished.

    Broiled chicken breasts.
    Diana Rattray

  7. Serve the chicken breasts with the remaining lemon butter sauce and sprinkle with the green onion tops and chopped parsley, if using.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Tips

  • Depending on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts, cooking times can vary. To ensure the chicken isn't undercooked or overcooked, check it with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest pieces. The minimum safe temperature—according to the USDA—for chicken is 165 F (75 C).
  • Gently pound the chicken breasts to avoid tearing the meat. If you don't have plastic wrap, use a food storage bag. Place a chicken breast in the bag and pound it gently.
  • A serving portion of chicken is about 4 ounces, so plan on about 5 to 6 ounces of chicken breast for each adult.

Recipe Variations

  • Add tangy flavor to the sauce mixture with a tablespoon or two of drained chopped capers.
  • Add herbal notes to the sauce with 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped thyme leaves or basil.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
364 Calories
23g Fat
1g Carbs
38g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 364
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 9g 47%
Cholesterol 133mg 44%
Sodium 262mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 3mg 14%
Calcium 30mg 2%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 343mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)