Description
This lemon Butter Chicken with Crispy Zucchini is a cozy yet fresh dinner made with juicy pan-seared chicken, golden zucchini, fluffy couscous, and a creamy lemon butter sauce. It’s easy enough for busy weeknights but special enough to feel like a treat.
Ingredients
Chicken
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1 lb chicken cutlets
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½ tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
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1 tsp Tuscan heat spice
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1 tbsp olive oil
Lemon Butter Sauce
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2 tbsp butter
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½ cup sour cream
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1 tbsp chicken stock concentrate
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1 lemon (juice + zest)
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¼ cup water
Crispy Zucchini
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2 medium zucchini, sliced into rounds
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1 tbsp olive oil
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½ cup panko breadcrumbs
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½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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Salt and pepper, to taste
Couscous
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1 cup Israeli couscous
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1¾ cups water
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2 scallions, sliced (white and green parts separated)
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
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Toss zucchini slices with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of Tuscan spice. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes until tender.
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Season chicken cutlets with salt, pepper, and remaining Tuscan spice. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook chicken for 3–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
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In a small pot, sauté the white parts of the scallions until fragrant. Add couscous and toast briefly, then add water. Cover and cook for 6–8 minutes until tender.
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Remove zucchini from the oven, toss with panko and mozzarella, then broil for 2–3 minutes until crispy and bubbly.
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In the same skillet used for chicken, melt butter. Stir in chicken stock concentrate, water, lemon juice, sour cream, and lemon zest. Simmer gently until smooth.
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Stir green scallions into the couscous. Serve chicken over couscous with crispy zucchini and drizzle generously with lemon butter sauce.
Notes
Greek yogurt can replace sour cream for a lighter sauce.
Quinoa works well instead of couscous for a gluten-free option.
Broil zucchini carefully — it crisps fast!
Add extra lemon zest for brighter flavor if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven + Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg