This simply delicious Chicken Green Bean Skillet is an easy way to eat healthy on a busy day. Seasoned chunks of tender chicken and fresh green beans with a lemony garlic butter sauce cook in one skillet in under 30 minutes.
Include an easy, healthy skillet meal like this one or my Loaded Taco Skillet in your weekly menu rotation.
A simple mixture of dried seasonings combined with a little butter, broth and lemon juice creates the most incredible flavor in this easy skillet chicken with green beans.
Recipe Highlights
- Fast – This meal is on the table in under 30 minutes – start to finish!
- Economical – Make use of those dried seasonings you already have in your pantry along with a few fresh ingredients to make this wholesome meal.
- Healthy – This is a high protein, low calorie meal. With the right side dish choices it’s a great keto or low-carb option.
- Easy Cleanup – Skillet meals have the added bonus of less dishes to clean. Vital on busy weeknights!
Table of contents
Ingredients
- Chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breast but you could use boneless skinless chicken thighs or a combination of the two.
- Green beans – Trim the woody ends from 12 ounces of fresh green beans.
- Dried seasoning – Italian seasoning, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. I also add a touch of red pepper flakes for some kick, but not much heat.
- Extra virgin olive oil and butter – To sear the chicken and add flavor to the luscious sauce.
- Minced garlic – Use fresh garlic or save time and buy pre-peeled garlic cloves or jars of minced garlic. This shortcut is absolutely okay in recipes where the garlic is cooked.
- Lemon – You’ll need the juice from one lemon but I like to have an extra lemon to slice for garnish.
- Low sodium chicken broth – A small amount of broth combines with the pan juices and creates an amazing sauce.
- Fresh parsley – It finishes the recipe with a bright, fresh element.
Like things spicy? Season to taste with red pepper flakes to to make it as spicy as you’d like! Or, keep it mild and use the amount called for in the recipe and serve it with extra red pepper flakes on the side.
How to Make Chicken Green Bean Skillet
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Please refer to the recipe card at the end of this post for detailed instructions and amounts.
Partially Cook the Green Beans
Before beginning, arrange the green beans in a microwave-safe dish with a little water and cook until just barely fork tender, about 4 minutes. Don’t overcook them at this point as they will finish cooking in the skillet. This step guarantees that everything will finish cooking at the same time.
Cook the Chicken and Finish the Green Beans
- Heat all of the oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet or sauté pan. Cook the chicken in one layer over medium-high heat, without stirring for about 4 minutes. Sprinkle the seasoning over the top and stir. Then, cook, stirring occasionally, until it’s cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate, and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add the partially cooked green beans, half of the parsley, garlic, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the lemon juice and chicken broth, increase the heat and cook, stirring occasionally for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the liquid a little.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss with the remaining parsley. Garnish with lemon slices and serve.
Serving Suggestions
This easy skillet meals gives you your protein and your veggies so you can keep it simple and just cook up some white or brown rice. Or, choose any of the recipes below to complete your meal.
- Yellow Rice Pilaf or Baked Sweet Potatoes are delicious choices for serving with this meal.
- Want to keep it low carb? Cauliflower Rice Pilaf is the perfect choice.
More Easy Chicken Dinners
- Chicken Bites
- Cilantro Lime Chicken with Tex-Mex Cauliflower Rice
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
- Find more easy weeknight dinner ideas in our collection of Main Dish recipes.
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Chicken Green Bean Skillet
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, (or thighs) cut into bite-size pieces
- 12 ounces green beans, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon, juiced (plus lemon slices for garnish)
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes, or to taste
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided
Instructions
- Arrange green beans in a microwave-safe dish (I used a pie plate) with ½ cup water. Cook for 4 minutes, until just barely fork tender but still crisp (they will finish cooking in the skillet).
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the Italian seasoning, onion powder, smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch skillet or sauté pan over MEDIUM heat. Add the chicken, spread it out into one layer, and increase the heat to MEDIUM-HIGH. Cook undisturbed for about 4 minutes then sprinkle the seasoning mix over the top and stir. Cook, stirring occasionally for another 5 to 6 minutes, or until cooked through. If the chicken browns too quickly, lower the heat. Remove the skillet from the heat, transfer the chicken to a plate, and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, over MEDIUM-LOW heat melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add the partially cooked green beans, half of the parsley, garlic, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the lemon juice and chicken broth, increase the heat to MEDIUM-HIGH, and cook, stirring occasionally for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the liquid a little.
- Add the chicken back to the skillet and toss with the green beans and remaining parsley. Garnish with lemon slices.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home. All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.
