Amazing 30-min Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Name: Amazing 30-min Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 5 to 6 ounces each; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed; 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon hot sauce; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; Lemon slices for serving

By anna Boncoeur On September 3, 2025

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

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If you are tired of complicated weeknight dinners that leave you scrubbing pots for an hour, then get ready to meet your new secret weapon: Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans. I’m Anna, and for years, I’ve been obsessed with finding ways to make everyday cooking simpler, more flavorful, and genuinely joyful. I’ve spent countless evenings testing one-skillet chicken recipes, tweaking them until they deliver maximum impact with minimal fuss.

This recipe is the result of all that testing—it’s bright, it’s fast, and it uses that magical combination of lemon, garlic, and butter that makes everything taste incredible. We’re talking juicy chicken thighs and crisp green beans, all done in under 30 minutes. Trust me, once you try this approach for your Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans, it’ll earn a permanent spot in your rotation!

Table Of content

Why You Will Love This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans Recipe

When dinner time rushes around, you need reliability. This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans recipe is designed for exactly those moments. It’s the kind of meal that tastes like you spent hours on it, but really, you barely spent any time at all! Here are the top reasons I keep making this dish.

Quick 30-Minute Total Time

Seriously, 30 minutes from start to finish. That’s less time than it takes to decide what to order in! It’s perfect for getting a hot, home-cooked meal on the table right when everyone is getting cranky.

Flavorful One-Skillet Simplicity

The cleanup is a dream. Everything happens in one big skillet, which means you are building layers of flavor right on top of each other. That lemon garlic butter sauce coats everything beautifully—no extra bowls needed!

Naturally Low Carb and Satisfying

Since we are focusing on chicken thighs and fresh green beans, this dish is naturally low in carbs, which is great if you are watching those things. But don’t mistake ‘light’ for ‘lacking’! These juicy thighs and crisp veggies are incredibly filling.

Gathering Everything for Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

Before we even think about turning on the heat, let’s make sure we have all our players lined up. For a quick 30-minute meal like this, prepping everything first—what we call mise en place—is non-negotiable! It keeps the cooking flow steady, especially when we start searing chicken. We need just a few core items to make this Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans sing. Remember, this recipe is scaled perfectly for four hungry people.

Don’t let the ingredient list intimidate you; it’s mostly pantry staples and fresh produce that work together beautifully in that skillet.

Essential Ingredients List

Ingredient	Amount (For 4 Servings)	Preparation Note
Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs	6 (about 5 to 6 ounces each)	Pat dry
Paprika	1 teaspoon	Ground
Onion Powder	1 teaspoon	Ground
Kosher Salt	3/4 teaspoon total	Divided
Black Pepper	1/2 teaspoon total	Divided
Olive Oil	2 tablespoons	For searing
Unsalted Butter	3 tablespoons total	Divided
Garlic	4 cloves	Minced
Fresh Green Beans	1 pound	Trimmed
Low Sodium Chicken Broth	1/2 cup	For the sauce base
Fresh Lemon Juice	2 tablespoons	Freshly squeezed is best!
Hot Sauce	1 teaspoon	Your favorite brand
Red Pepper Flakes	1/4 teaspoon	Adds a little kick
Fresh Parsley	1/4 cup	Chopped, for garnish
Lemon Slices	As needed	For serving

Equipment Needed for Perfect Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

You don’t need a fancy arsenal for this one-pan wonder, but having the right tools makes cooking your Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans so much smoother. Since we’re building all that flavor in one spot, the right vessel really matters for getting that perfect sear and sauce.

Key Cooking Tools

A large, heavy-bottomed skillet (12-inch is ideal) so you can sear the chicken without overcrowding.
Tongs for flipping the chicken easily.
A small bowl for mixing up your seasonings beforehand.
A meat thermometer—this is crucial for knowing exactly when those thighs are done at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

Okay, this is where the magic happens! Because we are moving fast, make sure your ingredients are prepped before you start heating the pan. This whole cooking process moves quickly, especially once that skillet gets hot. We’re going to build flavor layer by layer, which is the secret to making a simple Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans taste like a restaurant meal.

Preparing and Searing the Chicken Thighs

First things first: grab those six chicken thighs and pat them really, really dry with paper towels. This step is key! Dry chicken sears beautifully; wet chicken steams. While they’re drying, mix up your seasoning blend: paprika, onion powder, half a teaspoon of salt, and a quarter teaspoon of pepper. Rub that glorious mix all over both sides of the chicken thighs.

Next, heat your big skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil along with two tablespoons of your butter. Once the butter melts and starts to foam a little, carefully place the seasoned chicken thighs in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd them—if they are too close, they won’t brown right! Let them sear undisturbed for about 6 to 7 minutes per side. You are looking for a deep, rich golden color. Remember safety first: use your meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature hits 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once they’re golden and cooked through, pull them out onto a clean plate and set them aside while we move on.

Building the Lemon Garlic Butter Base

Reduce the heat just a touch if the pan looks like it’s smoking too much. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the hot skillet. As soon as it melts, toss in your four cloves of minced garlic. You only want to cook this for about 30 seconds until it smells fragrant. Seriously, 30 seconds! If you let garlic burn, it turns bitter, and you’ll have to start over. We’re aiming for sweet and aromatic here.

Cooking the Green Beans in the Skillet

Now toss in that pound of trimmed green beans. Add the remaining salt and pepper right onto the beans. Sauté these for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring them around so they get a little color but stay nice and crisp. We don’t want mushy beans, right? We want that ‘tender-crisp’ snap!

Creating the Bright Sauce for Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

Time to introduce the liquid! Pour in the half cup of low-sodium chicken broth, the two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, the teaspoon of hot sauce, and those little red pepper flakes. Bring this mixture up to a gentle simmer. Keep stirring and let it bubble away for about 3 to 4 minutes. You’ll notice the sauce thickening slightly as the liquid reduces. This is where all those bright, zesty flavors concentrate into the perfect sauce for your Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans.

Finishing the Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

Once the sauce looks like it’s coating the back of a spoon just a little, it’s time to reunite the team. Gently nestle those cooked chicken thighs back into the skillet, placing them right down among the green beans. Spoon some of that wonderful sauce over the tops of the chicken pieces. Let everything simmer together for just 2 or 3 more minutes—this just ensures the chicken is piping hot and totally coated in that bright sauce. Turn off the heat, sprinkle generously with that quarter cup of fresh, chopped parsley, and serve immediately with extra lemon slices on the side!

Tips for Making the Best Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

Even though this recipe is straightforward, a couple of little tricks can take your Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans from good to absolutely unforgettable. I’ve learned these through trial and error, and they are worth sharing so you don’t waste any of that precious weeknight cooking time!

Achieving Juicy Chicken Every Time

The biggest mistake people make with chicken thighs is overcooking them, which is easy to do since they are so forgiving! Always pat the skin and flesh completely dry before seasoning; this guarantees a beautiful sear instead of steaming. Then, trust your thermometer, not your eyes. Once it hits 165°F, pull it out immediately. It will carry-over cook slightly while resting.

Adjusting Sauce Consistency

If you like a really thick, almost glaze-like sauce coating everything—and I totally get it, who doesn’t?—you can easily amp up the flavor base. The recipe calls for half a cup of broth, but if you want it saucier, use three-quarters of a cup instead. You’ll just need to let it simmer a little longer until it reduces down to your preferred thickness. It’s all about preference!

Storing and Reheating Your Leftover Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers of this delicious Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans—which I doubt, because it disappears fast—storing them properly keeps them tasting great for a couple of days. You want to handle the chicken and the veggies gently when reheating so they don’t get tough.

Keeping Leftovers Fresh

Storage Method	Container Type	Maximum Storage Time
Refrigeration	Airtight container	3 to 4 days
Freezing	Freezer-safe bag or container	Up to 2 months

Reheating Methods

The best way to reheat this is back in a skillet over medium-low heat with just a tiny splash of water or extra broth. Let it warm up slowly for about 5 minutes, stirring gently until everything is heated through. Avoid microwaving if you can, as it tends to make the chicken texture a bit rubbery, even though it’s faster.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe

I get so many messages about substitutions and timing for this quick chicken dinner. Here are the most common things people ask when they are planning to make this one pan chicken dish.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

You absolutely can, but be super careful! Chicken breasts are much leaner, so they dry out way faster. If you use breasts, pound them to an even thickness first. Check the temperature after about 4 minutes per side. They are done right at 165°F, but they won’t have as much residual juiciness as the thighs do.

What if I don’t have fresh parsley?

Fresh parsley adds that beautiful, earthy finish, but life happens! If you only have dried parsley, use about one-third of the amount called for—so, maybe 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of dried parsley. Add the dried herbs when you add the chicken broth so they have time to rehydrate and release their flavor into the sauce.

How can I make this a complete meal with a side dish?

Since this is already a low carb chicken meal, it pairs perfectly with something starchy if you aren’t watching carbs! I love serving this over creamy polenta, or you can pair it with some fluffy white rice to soak up all that extra lemon garlic butter sauce. For a truly low-carb option, a side of roasted asparagus is fantastic.

Share Your Perfect Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans

I truly hope this recipe brings some easy joy and flavor into your busy weeknights. I put a lot of love into making sure this Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs and Green Beans delivers every single time you make it.

Rate and Comment on Your Results

Once you’ve tried it out, please come back and let me know how it went! Drop a star rating and leave a comment below telling me your favorite part—was it the sear on the chicken or that incredible bright sauce? You can also see more ideas on our Pinterest page.