Whole30 Lemon Chicken (Keto)
I’ll never get sick of an easy and tasty chicken dinner! This Whole30 Lemon Chicken recipe is filled with slightly sweet and savory flavors. The lemon adds a hint of tartness that perfectly contrasts the hearty chicken. In addition, this Lemon Chicken comes together in one skillet in 30 minutes, which makes it great for an easy weeknight dinner! If you have leftover lemons, make my Paleo Lemon Bars for dessert!
Ingredients
CHICKEN THIGHS: Chicken thighs are extremely tender and flavorful. In addition, they soak up the lemon juice and sauce, making them the perfect cut of meat for Lemon Chicken.
CHICKEN BROTH: Chicken broth is the savory base of the sauce.
LEMONS: Both lemon juice and sliced lemons are key for Lemon Chicken. To caramelize the lemon slices, add them directly into the olive oil in the skillet (don’t place them on top of the chicken) as they need direct heat.
COCONUT CREAM: Full fat coconut cream adds a creamy texture to the sauce.
OTHER INGREDIENTS: olive oil or ghee, salt, pepper, minced garlic
Chicken Thighs Versus Chicken Breasts
Chicken thighs tend to retain their juices and remain tender while cooking. With that said, chicken breasts can be substituted but may not be quite as tender.
Bone In Versus Boneless
Bone in chicken usually contains slightly darker, more tender meat. Both work in this recipe, but add more cooking time for bone in to ensure it’s cooked through.
Skin On Versus Skinless
Chicken skin is crispy and flavorful when cooked, but consuming it is totally a personal preference and won’t affect this recipe.
Recipe Steps
Step 1
First, add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Then, pat chicken dry with paper towels and season with sea salt and pepper.
Step 2
Next, add chicken to skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side. Then, add minced garlic and lemon slices to skillet.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine broth, lemon juice and coconut cream and pour this mixture into the skillet and bring to a boil.
Step 4
After boiling for 3 minutes, reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 5
Finally, serve chicken with cauliflower rice and garnish with parsley if desired.
What To Serve With Lemon Chicken
In addition to being an easy dinner, this Whole30 Lemon Chicken is versatile. Serve over cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes, alongside a side salad, or refrigerate and use as meal prep. It’s a great Whole30 lunch or dinner option!
Get the Recipe: Whole30 Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil, or ghee
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp lemon juice, about 1 large lemon
- 1/4 cup coconut cream
- 1 large lemon, sliced
Instructions
- First, add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Then, pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season with sea salt and pepper.
- Place chicken in the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side. Next, add minced garlic and sliced lemons to the skillet.
- In a small bowl, combine chicken broth, lemon juice and coconut cream. Then, pour this mixture into the skillet and bring to a boil.
- After that, boil for 3 minutes then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Finally, serve with cauliflower rice if desired.
Notes
- Serve over cauliflower rice and garnish with parsley if desired.
- Chicken is done cooking when it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit internally.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, add leftovers to a skillet over low heat until warmed through.
8 Comments on “Whole30 Lemon Chicken (Keto)”
I made this lemon chicken recipe for myself and my husband and it was impeccable!! This is a new staple in our household! It’s so easy to sub other proteins as well. I used ground turkey and it was delightful on my tastebuds!
Addisons recipes are so easy to sub for other Ingredients you have at home
I used coconut milk and coconut yogurt for my dish and I used almond milk and almond yogurt for my husbands dish.
It is also great to cook carb, protien & veggie is one pan with the sauce!!
Hi Justine! I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe. Your substitutions sound delicious. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review!
I’m sorry to hear that! Did it taste fine otherwise?
Is there a reason why my sauce did not thicken or caramelizad?
Hi Stephanie! How long did you simmer the sauce for? The longer it simmers, the more thick and caramelized it gets.
I simmered about 30, but didn’t want to go longer because then the chicken would taste dry :/
I made this today – it was so easy! One pan and only a handful of ingredients. I have tried to make other lemon chicken and I always think it lacks lemon flavor. Not this! Was delicious and so healthy. I steamed a bag of spinach to go along with it. The sauce was so good on the spinach as well.
This is such a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner! My whole family loved it. I’ll be making it again.