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Oh, friends, if you are looking for the ultimate quick, easy, and healthy weeknight dinner, this Easy Chicken Breast and Green Beans skillet is your new best friend. Imagine this: perfectly golden, juicy, tender chicken breast, paired with vibrant, crisp-tender green beans, all tossed in a simple, savory garlic herb butter. It’s one of those amazing, homey chicken recipes that comes together in one pan in about 20 minutes! It’s the perfect, beautiful balance of a nourishing, “good for you food” meal and pure, cozy, simple comfort.

Serving Versatility

This is one of my favorite quick easy meals chicken because it’s fantastic all on its own for a wonderful low-carb, diabetic-friendly dinner! But it’s also amazing served over a bed of fluffy rice or quinoa, or even alongside some creamy mashed potatoes.

Full Recipe Section

20-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15-20 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 Calories: Approximately 360 kcal per serving

Ingredients:

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs), sliced horizontally into 4 thin cutlets
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Prep Chicken: Pat the chicken cutlets dry with a paper towel. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
2. Sear Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cutlets in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (165°F). Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.
3. Cook Green Beans: To the same skillet, add the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds, stirring, until fragrant.
4. Sauté & Steam: Add the fresh green beans and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Toss to coat in the garlic butter. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until they turn bright green.
5. Deglaze: Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pan and let the green beans steam for 3-5 minutes, or until crisp-tender.
6. Combine: Uncover, add the cooked chicken (and any juices from the plate) back into the skillet. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice all over the top. Toss everything to combine and let it warm through for 1-2 minutes.
7. Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• One Pan & 25 Minutes: This is one of the best homey chicken recipes because it’s on the table in under 30 minutes, and you only have one pan to clean!
• Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, affordable ingredients like chicken and green beans.
• Big, Cozy Flavor: The simple, savory garlic butter sauce tastes so comforting and delicious.
• A+ “Good For You Food”: This meal is packed with lean protein and green veggies. It’s a perfect option for healthy eating or cooking for diabetics dinners.
• So Customizable: Easily add sliced mushrooms or onions with the green beans, or toss in some cherry tomatoes at the end!

Cultural or Cooking Technique Note (Optional)

The magic of this recipe is the simple pan-sear and steam technique in one skillet. First, we sear the chicken to get that delicious golden crust (flavor!). Then, we use the same pan to quickly sauté the garlic and green beans. By adding a splash of broth at the end, we “deglaze” the pan—lifting all those tasty browned bits—while simultaneously steaming the green beans to a perfect, crisp-tender finish.

Serving Suggestions

1. Low-Carb: Serve all on its own for a fantastic, light, and healthy meal.
2. Over Grains: Serve over a bed of fluffy jasmine rice, brown rice, or quinoa.
3. With Potatoes: This is delicious with a side of creamy mashed potatoes or roasted potato wedges.
4. With Pasta: Toss the chicken and green beans with a short pasta like penne or rotini for a simple, light pasta dish.

Pro Tips for Success

• Use Thin Chicken: Use thin-cut chicken breasts or pound them to an even 1/2-inch thickness. This is the secret to a fast and juicy pan-fried chicken breast.
• Don’t Overcook the Beans: You want crisp-tender green beans, not mushy, army-green ones! They should still have a slight “snap” to them.
• Don’t Burn the Garlic: Add the garlic to the melted butter and stir constantly for just 30-60 seconds until it’s fragrant, then add your beans.
• Fresh Lemon is Key: That final squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end is not optional! It brightens up all the savory, buttery flavors beautifully.

Storage & Reheating

• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of chicken broth or water to keep everything moist and prevent the chicken from drying out.

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I truly hope this Easy Chicken Breast and Green Beans skillet becomes a new weeknight staple for you! It’s one of my favorite chicken and beans dinner ideas for when I need something fast, nourishing, and delicious. Go ahead and make it your own, and please let me know what you think by leaving a comment and a rating below!

🎀 Final Thoughts

This is my “I’m tired and I want a real dinner, not just a snack” meal. It feels so wholesome and satisfying, and I just love that it’s all made in one pan. It’s simple, it’s cozy, and it makes me feel good. I hope you love it!