The fastest chicken dinner I’ve ever made started yesterday at 4pm, when we finally rolled through the door.
A sweaty group of kids fussing at each other. You know, the basic after-school mode.
And on Wednesdays — hooray! — there’s an extra hurdle to leap over: gymnastics starts at 5pm.
I don’t even have to crank up my AP high school math skills to figure this one out. (Also, I basically talked through all 4 years so my “skills” are pretty limited. Sorry, Mr. Gibbons.)
Anyway, I was all set to try a new sheet pan dinner tonight but my fears of running late won.
Shifting gears, I whipped up the following fast chicken dinner that was SO GOOD. Thumbs up all around.
Not bad for 12 minutes in the kitchen from start to finish.
10-Minute Buttery Chicken with Zucchini & Fresh Herbs
The fast cooking time only works because chicken strips cook so quickly. If you want to use larger pieces of breasts or thighs, just cook the chicken for longer — at least 5 minutes per side.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pounds chicken strips (uncooked chicken breasts sliced into strips)
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt for the chicken plus 1/2 teaspoon for the zucchini
2 zucchini or summer squash, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into half-moon shapes
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
handful of fresh herbs, cut into small pieces (we used basil and parsley)
Instructions
Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. While butter is melting, sprinkle lemon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt on the uncooked chicken.
Place chicken strips in the hot pan and DON’T MOVE THEM. Cook for 3 minutes on one side then flip. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Now add the sliced zucchini/squash and stir.
Add the lemon zest, juice, olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir.
Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring often, until the zucchini becomes soft.
Sprinkle chopped herbs on top and serve.
This is one of the fastest, juiciest dinners I’ve made in a long time. With tons of flavor and very little effort — or complaints! My favorite.
More ideas our four kids love:
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Easy Homemade Sauce
- Healthy Microwave Oatmeal? 5-Minute Apple-Cinnamon with Real Fruit
- How to Make “Hard Boiled Eggs” in an Instant Pot (that Peel Easily Every Time!)
- Roasted Broccoli with Sea Salt; My Kids’ Favorite Way to Eat Broccoli
Easy and delicious! My picky 7 year old ate it all up, even after saying she wasn’t going to like it. My 9 year old had seconds. Thank you!!
Awesome, Lindsey! I’m so happy to hear this. And my very favorite thing is when kids say they don’t like something — then proceed to eat like it’s their job. 🙂
This recipe is so easy to prepare and SO DELICIOUS. The lemon sauce that is created by the butter, lemon, lemon zest and olive oil compliments the flavor of the perfectly and gives the chicken a fresh zesty punch. This dish is perfect for summer and could not be easier to prepare. I finished the dish with fresh basil from the garden and served warm over rice.
This delivers on EASY and FAST. And Yummy! It’s just the recipe I needed today!
So easy to make and so full of flavor. I didn’t have any fresh herbs so I added dry basil with the olive oil, salt and lemon juice and zest. Served with fettuccini and it was beautiful and delicious. The lemon lends a fresh taste without having too strong a lemon flavor. Makes a great summer dish when zucchini is season. I cannot recommend more.