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Easy 20-Minute Lemon Garlic Chicken

Tender, high-protein chicken in a savory-sweet lemon garlic sauce, ready in just 20 minutes for quick weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skin-on preferred, or chicken breasts, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
  • 1 whole lemon juiced and zested
  • 10-15 cloves garlic chopped
  • 2.5 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1.5 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 whole red onion sliced
  • to taste black pepper
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro chopped
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil

Equipment

  • Large skillet or pan
  • mixing bowl
  • knife and cutting board

Method
 

  1. Cut chicken into 1.5-inch pieces. In a medium bowl, combine chicken with soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, cornstarch, and black pepper. Mix well to coat. Let sit for at least 5 minutes while you prep the onion and garlic.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add marinated chicken in a single layer and cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden. Flip and cook another 3 minutes until mostly cooked through.
  3. Push chicken to the edges of the pan. Add sliced red onion and chopped garlic to the center. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion softens and garlic becomes fragrant and golden.
  4. Increase heat to high. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped cilantro. Toss everything together for 1 minute to glaze the chicken and combine flavors.
  5. Serve immediately over rice or with your favorite side dish.

Notes

Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or broth. Substitutions: If you don't have oyster sauce, use extra soy sauce with a pinch of brown sugar. Chicken breasts work well but watch cooking time to prevent drying. Make-Ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours in advance. Store in fridge and add fresh aromatics during cooking.