Description
A quick and vibrant Italian-style lemon chicken with zesty lemon butter sauce, crisp capers, and a topping of tomato, olives, and feta. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s light, flavorful, and perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
3 (about 250 g each) chicken breast fillets, halved horizontally
100 g butter, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup (50 g) baby capers, drained
Zest and juice of 3 lemons
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 red onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup pimento-stuffed olives, thinly sliced
50 g feta cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
Instructions
- Place each piece of chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1.5 cm thick. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large flameproof roasting pan or skillet over high heat and melt 20 g of the butter. Cook the chicken for 2 minutes on each side until golden and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil.
- Reduce heat to medium. Melt the remaining 80 g butter in the same pan and cook for 2–3 minutes until golden brown. Add garlic and capers; cook for 1 minute until fragrant and capers are crisp.
- Add lemon zest and juice, stirring to combine. Return the chicken and any resting juices to the pan and cook for 2 minutes, turning occasionally, until the sauce slightly thickens.
- In a bowl, combine tomato, onion, olives, and feta. Toss gently to mix.
- Serve the chicken topped with the tomato mixture and sprinkled with parsley. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Swap chicken breast for thighs for a juicier texture.
Add baby spinach or rocket for a fresh garnish.
Pair with roasted potatoes, pasta, or salad for a complete meal.
Use olive oil or dairy-free butter and vegan feta for a dairy-free version.
Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor — avoid bottled if possible.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Fry
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
