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; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 1 cup chicken broth; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 2 tablespoons honey; 1 tablespoon garlic, minced; Red pepper flakes to taste

If you’re craving something creamy, tangy, and downright comforting, this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe is exactly what you need. It’s quick to whip up, bursting with bright lemony flavor, and perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests. Stick around—I promise you’ll want to make this one again and again!

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 is one of my go-tos when I want dinner that feels special without a ton of fuss. The tang from the lemon complements the richness of the cream beautifully, while the garlic adds just the right amount of punch. Every time I make it, people ask for seconds!

Quick and Simple: Ready in about 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy nights when you want home-cooked flavor fast.
Balanced Flavors: The bright lemon and sweet honey balance out the creamy, garlicky sauce perfectly.
Versatile: Pairs beautifully with everything from rice to roasted veggies and even pasta.
Impressively Elegant: Feels fancy enough for company but comes together without any complicated tricks.

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 its part to create a perfectly balanced dish. The fresh lemon juice brightens everything up, while garlic adds depth. Butter and olive oil help get a great sear on the chicken. Plus, the cream pulls it all together into a silky, dreamy sauce.

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: Easy to cook evenly and soak up the sauce flavor; pounding them ensures quick, uniform cooking.
Butter: Adds richness and helps develop a beautiful golden crust on the chicken.
Olive oil: Works with butter to raise the smoke point and keep the pan from burning the sauce.
Heavy cream: Makes the sauce luscious and velvety.
Chicken broth: Creates a flavorful base for the sauce without overpowering the other ingredients.
Lemon juice: Gives the sauce its signature fresh, zesty kick.
Honey: Balances the acidity with a subtle touch of sweetness.
Garlic (minced): Infuses the sauce with warm, aromatic depth.
Red pepper flakes: Optional, but just a pinch adds a lovely gentle heat that lifts the flavors.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning the chicken perfectly.

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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 Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe depending on what I have in the fridge or how bold I’m feeling. Feel free to add fresh herbs or swap out the cream for a lighter option. It’s flexible and always delicious.

Variation: I sometimes stir in chopped fresh basil or thyme right before serving—it adds a lovely herbaceous note that feels fresh and bright.
Dairy-free option: Try substituting coconut cream instead of heavy cream for a slight tropical twist that’s suitable for lactose intolerance.
Spice it up: Crank up the red pepper flakes if you want more heat, or include a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky depth.
Vegetable addition: Add sautéed mushrooms or spinach during the sauce simmering stage for more texture and nutrition.

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

Step 1: Prep and Pound Your Chicken

Start by wrapping your chicken breasts in plastic wrap and gently pounding them to about half an inch thick. This step ensures they cook evenly and stay tender. If you don’t have a meat mallet, the bottom of a heavy pan works just fine. Then pat them dry—this helps you get a good sear instead of steaming the chicken.

Step 2: Season and Sear

Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Heat your butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat—this combo prevents the butter from burning while giving flavor. Place chicken in the pan and let it get nicely browned on one side, about 5 minutes. Don’t move it around too much; patience here pays off with that gorgeous golden crust.

Step 3: Finish Cooking the Chicken

Flip the chicken, reduce heat to medium, cover the pan, and cook for another 10 minutes or until the internal temperature hits 165°F and juices run clear. Removing the lid at the end to crisp up the bottom again is a tip I’ve found handy to keep things from getting soggy.

Step 4: Make the Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

After you’ve removed the chicken from the pan, combine your chicken broth, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes right in the skillet. Scrape up any yummy browned bits left from the chicken—it’s pure flavor gold. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes to thicken slightly, then stir in the heavy cream and mix until silky smooth.

Step 5: Coat and Serve

Return the chicken to the skillet and spoon the luscious sauce over each piece. Let everything warm through for a minute or two, then dish it up. I usually serve with a few lemon wedges and sprinkle fresh parsley on top—it lifts the whole dish beautifully.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned that a few simple tweaks make this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe even better every time. Don’t rush the searing step, and be generous with scraping those browned bits—they're where the magic happens!

Perfect Thickness: Pounding the chicken to an even thickness means it cooks uniformly; no one likes undercooked or dried-out bites.
Don’t Skip Butter and Oil Combo: I tried just butter once and it burned quickly; adding oil solves that problem and adds flavor.
Scrape the Pan Well: Those browned bits from searing give your sauce a deep, rich flavor you won’t want to miss.
Let Sauce Thicken: Simmering gently gives the sauce that melt-in-your-mouth texture instead of a watery glaze.

How to Serve Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe

Lemon Garlic Chicken - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I always go for fresh parsley because it adds a lively green pop and a touch of freshness against the rich sauce. Lemon wedges are a must—they let you add an extra squeeze of brightness right before digging in.

Side Dishes

This sauce screams for simple sides that soak it up—my favorites are buttery mashed potatoes, fluffy rice pilaf, or even roasted asparagus. Sometimes I throw in some crusty bread to mop up every last drop of that cream sauce. Trust me, you’ll want it all!

Creative Ways to Present

For a dinner party, I like plating the chicken sliced and fanned out over a bed of sautéed spinach, with the sauce drizzled artistically. A sprinkle of toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds on top adds a subtle crunch and wow factor without extra effort.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover chicken with lemon garlic cream sauce keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like to separate chicken and sauce before storing if possible; it helps keep the texture fresh and avoids sogginess.

Freezing

I’ve frozen the sauce on its own successfully—just thaw it gently in the fridge overnight before reheating. The chicken can get a bit dry if frozen, so I recommend prepping fresh chicken when possible, and using frozen sauce to save time.

Reheating

Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over low to medium heat, adding a splash of broth or cream if the sauce looks too thick. This keeps the chicken moist and maintains that silky sauce texture without scorching.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs work great and tend to be juicier. Just adjust cooking time to ensure they’re fully cooked through.

What if I don't have heavy cream?

You can substitute half-and-half or whole milk with a tablespoon of flour for a lighter version, though the sauce won’t be quite as rich or thick. Coconut cream is a good dairy-free alternative.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as your chicken broth doesn’t contain gluten additives. Always double-check labels to be safe.

How do I prevent the sauce from breaking?

To keep your lemon garlic cream sauce smooth, avoid boiling it rapidly after adding the cream. Instead, simmer gently and stir frequently to prevent curdling.

Final Thoughts

I still remember the first time I made this Chicken with Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe—it quickly became one of those comforting dishes I turn to when I want both ease and elegance. It’s approachable for cooks of all levels and delivers bold flavor without any stress. I can’t wait for you to try it and fall in love like I did!