Keto Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken

Transform your weeknight dinners with this delightful Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken recipe. This dish combines tender chicken with a rich, flavorful sauce, making it a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying meal that the whole family will love.

If you’re following a keto or low-carb diet, or simply looking to mix up your meal routine with something lighter yet flavorful, this recipe is worth a try.

This dish promises a quick and easy dinner perfect for weeknights. Let’s walk through the process step-by-step so you can make this delightful meal at home.

Ingredients and Preparations

Essential Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Chicken Thighs: Boneless and skinless, around 3-6 pieces.
• Green Beans: One pound, trimmed.
• Onion Powder: One teaspoon.
• Paprika: One teaspoon.
• Black Pepper: Quarter teaspoon.
• Salt: Quarter teaspoon.
• Butter: Three tablespoons, divided.
• Garlic: Four cloves, minced.
• Hot Sauce: One tablespoon.
• Chicken Stock: Half a cup.
• Lemon Juice: Juice from half a lemon.
• Parsley (optional): For garnish.
• Red Pepper Flakes (optional): For a touch of heat.

Preliminary Steps

Start by preparing a spice mixture for seasoning the chicken thighs. Mix the following in a small bowl:

• One teaspoon of onion powder.
• One teaspoon of paprika.
• Quarter teaspoon of black pepper.
• Quarter teaspoon of salt.

Next, take your chicken thighs and season them well with this spice mixture. Let them sit for about 10 minutes to absorb the flavors. Meanwhile, trim the green beans by cutting off the ends, then place them in a microwave-safe bowl with half a cup of water and microwave for 8-10 minutes.

Cooking Steps

Searing the Chicken

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add two tablespoons of butter. Once the butter is melted, place the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer. Cook them for about six to seven minutes on each side until they are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Preparing the Green Beans

While the chicken is cooking, mince four cloves of garlic. Have one tablespoon of butter ready and slice a lemon in half, preparing to use the juice from one half.

Making the Sauce

Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. Turn down the heat to low and add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.

Stir in one tablespoon of hot sauce and add the pre-cooked green beans, making sure to avoid adding the residual water from microwaving. Let everything simmer for five to six minutes, stirring frequently. If you like a touch of heat, consider adding a quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes at this stage.

Combining the Ingredients

Pour in half a cup of chicken stock and the juice from half a lemon into the skillet. Continue to cook until the mixture starts to thicken. This should take a couple of minutes. Move the green beans to one side of the skillet and add the cooked chicken thighs back in, allowing them to reheat and absorb some of the sauce.

Final Touches

Garnishing and Serving

For those who like a visual appeal, add some chopped parsley over the dish for a fresh green garnish. Finally, give it a taste and adjust the seasoning with a bit more salt and pepper if needed.

Tasting the Meal

I couldn’t wait to dig in and see if this recipe was as good as advertised. Starting with the green beans, I was impressed with the flavor—simple but delicious. Then the moment of truth: the chicken. The combination of lemon, garlic, and butter was delightful. The chicken was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor.

Nutritional Information

For those following the keto diet or just keeping an eye on their macros, here’s the nutritional breakdown for this recipe:

• Calories: 1850 for the entire recipe, approximately 616 per serving (two chicken thighs).
• Fat: 45 grams.
• Protein: 36 grams.
• Carbs: 17 grams.
• Saturated Fat: 16.5 grams.
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.3 grams.
• Monosaturated Fat: 17.3 grams.
• Sugar: 6.5 grams.
• Cholesterol: 221 mg.

With 17 grams of carbs, this meal fits well within a keto diet, especially considering the high protein and fat content.

Conclusion

This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken recipe is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a delicious, quick, and healthy dinner. Whether you’re on a keto diet or not, this dish is flavorful enough to become a staple in your meal rotation. It’s simple to make, full of flavor, and aligns well with low-carb dietary goals.