This Skillet Chicken in Zesty Lemon Garlic Sauce with Crispy Bacon & Green Beans is a flavorful one-pan meal that combines juicy chicken, fresh green beans, and crispy bacon in a bright lemon garlic sauce.
The balance of savory bacon, fresh lemon, and tender chicken creates a delicious dish that feels comforting yet fresh at the same time.
Perfect for easy dinners, high-protein meals, low carb recipes, and quick weeknight cooking.
Ready in about 35 minutes, this simple recipe is ideal when you want a satisfying meal without complicated steps or multiple pans.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed
- salt and black pepper to taste
Optional garnish:
- fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Cook the bacon
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Cook chopped bacon until crispy.
Remove bacon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet for extra flavor.
2. Cook the chicken
Season chicken thighs with salt and black pepper.
Add olive oil to the same skillet and cook chicken for 5–6 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked.
Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Prepare lemon garlic sauce
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Add butter to the skillet.
Stir in garlic, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.
Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Add lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and chicken broth.
Stir well while scraping any flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan.
Let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes.
4. Cook green beans
Add green beans to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes until tender but still slightly crisp.
5. Combine everything
Return cooked chicken and crispy bacon to the skillet.
Spoon sauce over the chicken.
Simmer together for 2–3 minutes to combine flavors.
6. Serve
Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Serve warm.
Tips for best results
- use fresh lemon for best flavor
- cook chicken until golden for richer taste
- do not overcook green beans to keep texture crisp
- perfect for low carb meal plans
Recipe details
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
High protein meal
Low carb dinner option
One pan recipe
