Lemon Butter Chicken
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Easy crisp-tender chicken with the creamiest lemon butter sauce ever – you’ll want to forget the chicken and drink the sauce instead!
Happy New Year! I know I should really be sharing some sort of salad or quinoa recipe with the start of the year but you know me and my chicken thigh obsession. I just can’t get enough, especially when a lemon butter cream sauce is involved.
And if you’re in the need of some clean greens for the new year diet, well, this dish has plenty of baby spinach. Good enough, right?
Plus, these chicken thighs carry quite a bit of punch with that fresh, zingy lemon flavor and that smoky goodness from the paprika. And this cream sauce is absolutely heavenly. Just be sure to have a spoon ready because you’ll want to sip on it straight from the pan!
Lemon Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Season chicken thighs with paprika, salt and pepper, to taste.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Working in batches, add chicken, skin-side down, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side; set aside.
- Melt remaining tablespoon butter in the Dutch oven. Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan, lemon juice and thyme.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat, stir in spinach, and simmer until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return chicken to the Dutch oven.
- Place into oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes.
- Serve immediately.
Did you make this recipe?
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This was amazing. I suggest doubling the sauce recipe so there’s plenty to serve over noodles
OMG! Your photography alone is soooo great! I can almost smell the chicken on the computer screen.
This will be the next chicken dinner for us!
this is so simple and delicious! I make this probably every other week and my husband always loves it. I use 2% if that’s all I have and sometimes think I like it better a bit lighter. This is the first and so far only chicken dish in my house good enough even for a sunday dinner!
I tried this tonight – was very rich, but very delicious – I hope you don’t mind but I reviewed it as I’m always trying, often unsuccessfully to find a dish that both my kids will eat! This ticked enough boxes for my two to at least eat, which is a bonus as often they’ll prod a food and declare that it’s utterly inedible or poisonous, rather than actually try it!
http://mummycrochetry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/foodie-monday.html
Made this tonight and it was delicious! Thank you. Any ideas for the leftover sauce? I hate to throw it away it was so yummy 🙂
Can other pieces of the chicken be used? I’m not really a fan of thighs.
Yes, absolutely.
I made the chicken tonight a it was SO GOOOD!! I made it exactly as recipe except I used chicken breasts (4). I couldn’t get enough!! Next time I am doubling the sauce/spinach part. (you’re right….I could drink it). Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!!
I made this tonight for my best friend’s birthday and she absolutely loved it! Served it along with some rotini pasta and made a second helping of sauce so it could be poured on top. Can’t wait to try your other chicken recipes!
I followed the recipe, but halved everything, and used chicken breasts instead of thighs.
The Chicken Breasts tasted great, but 30 minutes in the oven caused all the sauce to evaporate and spinach to burn to a black charred crisp. Any suggestions on how to do it better next time? It came out very disappointing with no sauce or spinach.
Matt, perhaps there was not enough sauce to begin with? I recommend halving all of the ingredients but leaving the sauce proportions the same. Hope that helps!
Do you think we can substitute boneless chicken breasts for the thighs?
Yes, that should work just fine but you may have to adjust coking time, as needed.
I cannot get enough of bone in, skin on chicken thighs. Beautiful photos by the way. I love everything you have on your blog. I’m aspiring to be as big as you are someday!
xo,
Brooke
Can’t wait to try this tonight! I would like to add more spinach, can I double the ingredients for the sauce so there’s enough?
Yes, absolutely.
Thanks for the prompt response!
This is absolutely decadent! The flavors are so wonderful. I didn’t have heavy cream, so used plain Greek yogurt. That worked well. I sauteed the spinach separately. Thanks for posting.
Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, absolutely.
Omg I just made this tonight and it was delicious! I am just getting into cooking so i was pretty impresed. Made half but could’ve used a tad bit more sauce. I also added mushrooms and it went perfect with it! One question:when “searing” the chicken, is it just so the outside cooks or does the whole chicken have to cook or is it done in the oven?
When searing, it’s basically cooking the outside to seal in all the amazing juices and create that amazing crust. The chicken will cook through completely in the oven.
Hi, I need to try this recipe non dairy. I can use some kind of butter substitute, but as far as the heavy cream, do you think something like coconut cream would work? thanks!
Coconut cream sounds absolutely amazing. But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment.
We really prefer boneless chicken breast, do you think it would come out just as good? It looks delicious.
Yes, chicken breasts will work just fine, although cooking time will have to be adjusted as needed.
Very delicious . I have prepared my boy even this morning and liked very much. Thanks recipe
This was AMAZING !! Everyone LOVED IT 🙂
That looks delicious!