The simple Lemon Butter Hen is my newest love in my assortment of one-pan recipes. Made with the BEST lemon butter sauce for hen, this wholesome model swaps heavy cream for a can of coconut milk.

Lemon and hen are only a match made in heaven, and it’s clear that I’m not the one one who feels that means.
Anytime I share recipes that contain lemon and hen (like Baked Lemon Hen, Hen Piccata, or Lemon Hen Orzo Soup), readers simply appear to eat them up… figuratively and actually.
Nonetheless, this creamy lemon butter hen recipe could be the most effective of the bunch:
- Made in below an hour in solely ONE pan (like this Skillet Tomato Hen), it’s a straightforward lemon butter hen that’s easy to prep, straightforward to prepare dinner, and a breeze to scrub up.
- My wholesome model skips the heavy cream and as an alternative opts for wealthy and creamy coconut milk.
- This endlessly versatile recipe may be made together with your alternative of inexperienced vegetable. We went with inexperienced beans, however lemon butter hen with broccoli, asparagus, or spinach would all be pleasant.
With its quick prep, vivid and creamy sauce, and one-pan prowess, prepare as a result of this would be the BEST lemon butter hen recipe you’ve ever made.

5 Star Evaluation
“A really tasty, straightforward recipe with restricted prep and subsequent to no cleanup! Bonus throughout. My husband cherished it and couldn’t say sufficient about how scrumptious it was.”
— Patti —
Methods to Make Lemon Butter Hen
Tender, juicy hen breasts bathing in a creamy lemon butter sauce made with out cream (just like Garlic Butter Shrimp), this straightforward hen dinner is fast sufficient for weeknights but spectacular sufficient for a cocktail party together with your in-laws.
This straightforward lemon butter hen begins on the range, then transitions to the oven.
The Components
- Hen. Lean, juicy hen breasts are my go-to protein for this straightforward lemon butter hen recipe (in case you love hen breast too, don’t miss the all-time Baked Hen Breast).
- Lemon. You may’t have lemon butter hen with out loads of vivid and zippy lemon taste that comes from utilizing each the juice and zest. (Lemon lovers, try this Lemon Basil Hen recipe.)
- Full-Fats Coconut Milk. Most lemon butter hen recipes name for heavy whipping cream. As a substitute, I took a observe from my favourite Thai Hen Curry and used full-fat coconut milk. DELICIOUS.

- Garlic and Shallots. Add depth to the sauce and make it scent actually divine.
- Inexperienced Beans. Provide a full serving of veggies to make this an entire meal in a single pan.
- Butter. Provides only a contact of additional richness and supplies sufficient fats to sear and saute the hen and greens to perfection.
- Italian Seasoning. Give the sauce somewhat Italian aptitude and enhances the garlic and shallots.
- Recent Herbs. The proper contemporary inexperienced garnish. Parsley and thyme are nice year-around; basil or oregano would even be pretty.
What Goes with Lemon Butter Hen?
As written, this recipe yields a beneficiant quantity of protein and veggies and a great quantity of lemon butter sauce too. In case you’d prefer to spherical it out with one other facet, listed here are just a few concepts:
- Pasta. Serve the hen and greens over entire wheat noodles. This Pasta al Limone can be particularly good too.
- Brown Rice. How we ate it! I lower the hen and greens into smaller items, then blended them and the sauce with brown rice. See Immediate Pot Brown Rice for a easy cooking methodology.
- Lemon Rice. For true citrus lovers.
- Cauliflower Rice. Superb for these seeking to maintain the recipe low carb or in search of keto lemon butter hen breasts.
- Heat Bread. A crust baguette or this Rosemary Olive Oil Bread is right for sauce dunking.
- Roasted Greens of Your Selection. Strive Roasted Potatoes or Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

The Instructions
- Sear the hen breasts in butter.
- Scale back the warmth, add the remaining butter, then toss prepare dinner the inexperienced beans, shallot, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
- Take away from the warmth, and add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and coconut milk. Return the hen to the sauce.
- Bake lemon butter hen for 15 to twenty minutes at 375 diploma F till cooked by way of.
TIP!
Hen is totally cooked when an instant-read thermometer inserted within the thickest portion of the hen registers 165 levels F, and the juices run clear. (The overall cooking time will range primarily based on the dimensions of your hen.)
- Garnish with herbs and additional lemon wedges, then serve. ENJOY!

Storage Suggestions
- To Retailer. Lemon butter hen leftovers could also be stored in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- To Reheat. For greatest outcomes, heat the lemon butter sauce in a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low warmth till steaming. Reheat the hen and inexperienced beans within the microwave till heated by way of. High with heat sauce and serve.
What to Serve with Lemon Butter Hen
Beneficial Instruments to Make this Recipe
The Greatest Solid Iron Skillet
Staub’s particular forged iron requires no seasoning and leads to distinctive browning. Plus, it really works on all stovetops and is oven-safe.
Warning: this baked lemon butter hen smells unbelievable. Unintended effects could embody your complete household exhibiting up in your kitchen whereas it cooks. (This Crock Pot Hen Marsala has an identical impact.)
Incessantly Requested Questions
In case you’d like a thicker sauce, you might strive lowering the sauce additional on the stovetop earlier than baking. Alternatively, you can too strive whisking in just a few teaspoons of cornstarch after baking and returning to the stovetop, stirring often, till the sauce thickens. Whereas I’ve not personally tried thickening the sauce, others have reported success with these strategies.
I’ve by no means added potatoes to this recipe. Nonetheless, I feel it may very well be a incredible addition. In case you’d prefer to experiment, I recommend parboiling the potatoes in a pot of water whereas the hen sears. Then, add them to the sauce with the hen earlier than baking within the oven. Bake till the hen is cooked by way of and the potatoes are tender.
I’ve not tried to make a gradual cooker lemon butter hen earlier than, so you’ll be experimenting. I’m uncertain if the sauce would thicken the identical means in a crockpot. In case you determine to provide it a strive, nonetheless, I’d love to listen to about your outcomes.
- 1 1/2 kilos boneless skinless hen breasts or thighs or a mixture!
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon floor black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter divided (swap ghee to make Paleo or vegan butter to make dairy free)
- 1 pound inexperienced beans ends trimmed and lower in half (or swap trimmed asparagus, lower into 2-inch items)
- 1 small shallot minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 medium lemon zest and juice, plus further lemon slices for serving
- 1 can full-fat coconut milk (14 ounces) Don’t use gentle or the sauce will not thicken correctly
- Chopped contemporary thyme or parsley
For Serving:
- Steamed brown rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Crusty bread
- Complete wheat pasta
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Place a rack within the heart of your oven and preheat the oven to 375 levels F. Season the hen with salt and pepper.
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In a big, ovenproof skillet, soften 2 tablespoons of butter over medium warmth. Add the hen and sear on either side till deeply golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes complete. Switch to a plate.
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Scale back the warmth to medium-low. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter, then the inexperienced beans, shallot, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Stir to mix. Cook dinner for 7 minutes, stirring usually, till the inexperienced beans are crisp-tender.
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Take away from the warmth. Zest the lemon into the pan, then squeeze within the lemon juice. Slowly pour within the coconut milk whereas stirring to mix.
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Return the reserved hen to the skillet.
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Place the skillet within the oven and prepare dinner for 15 to 25 minutes, or till an instant-read thermometer inserted within the thickest portion of the hen registers 165 levels F and the juices run clear. (Be aware: the cooking time will range primarily based on the dimensions of your hen).
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High with parsley. Serve with additional lemon wedges and rice, pasta, and/or contemporary bread for mopping up the sauce, if desired.
- TO STORE: Lemon butter hen leftovers could also be stored in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: For greatest outcomes, heat the lemon butter sauce in a small saucepan on the stovetop over medium-low warmth till steaming. Reheat the hen and inexperienced beans within the microwave till heated by way of. High with heat sauce and serve.
Serving: 1(of 4)Energy: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 41gFats: 34gSaturated Fats: 25gPolyunsaturated Fats: 1gMonounsaturated Fats: 4gTrans Fats: 0.4gLdl cholesterol: 131mgPotassium: 1152mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1108IUVitamin C: 32mgCalcium: 88mgIron: 5mg
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