Name: Lemon Broccoli Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1 large egg; 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided; 1/4 cup butter, cubed; 1 cup chicken broth; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 4 cups fresh broccoli florets; Lemon wedges; Hot cooked rice, optional

Lemon broccoli chicken is a quick and easy one-pan meal, perfect for weeknights and guests.

Instructions

1 Prepare the chicken

2 Season the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder and paprika. In another shallow bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Dip the chicken in the egg mixture, then in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess. Editor's Tip: Cover all sides of the chicken with the flour mixture for an even texture. Use two pairs of tongs—one for the egg and one for the flour—to prevent clumping.

3 Cook the chicken

4 In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 12 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet and keep it warm. Editor's Tip: To keep the chicken warm, transfer it to an oven-safe dish and set it in a 170°F oven or cover it with aluminum foil.

5 Make the lemon sauce

6 Add the chicken broth, lemon zest and remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil. Editor's Tip: Scrape the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen any brown bits. These flavor-packed pan drippings, called fond, form when you brown the chicken, and are used to enrich the sauce.

7 Cook the broccoli

8 Add the broccoli to the skillet and stir to coat it in the sauce. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until the broccoli is tender. Editor's Tip: Covering the pan traps steam to cook the broccoli florets evenly. If you prefer firm-crisp broccoli, check it for doneness around the five-minute mark.

9 Serve the lemon broccoli chicken

10 Serve the broccoli and lemon sauce with the chicken. Pair it with lemon wedges and, if desired, hot cooked rice. Editor's Tip: You can either plate the chicken and spoon the broccoli and lemon sauce over it or return the chicken to the skillet for just long enough to toss it with the broccoli and sauce.