Description
Italian Basil Chicken Cutlets are a flavorful and elegant dish made with juicy chicken breasts, fresh basil, garlic, and lemon. This easy pan-seared chicken recipe delivers rich Italian flavors in under an hour, perfect for a weeknight dinner or special occasion.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts (with skin)
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1–2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3–4 dashes black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3–4 lemon slices, thin
- 1–2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix basil, garlic, salt, pepper, and softened butter. Chill for 15 minutes.
- Gently separate the skin from the chicken and spread basil butter under the skin.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and arrange lemon slices. Place chicken skin-side up over the lemons.
- Drizzle with lemon juice, season lightly.
- Cover and cook on low-medium heat for 25–30 minutes.
- Increase to medium-high heat to crisp skin.
- Flip briefly to brown the underside, then serve skin-side up with fresh basil garnish.
Notes
- Use boneless chicken breasts if preferred—adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Add cherry tomatoes, red pepper flakes, or mozzarella for variations.
- For dairy-free, substitute butter with a vegan spread or more olive oil.
- Reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or broth for best results.
