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All the comfort of warm spinach-artichoke dip—only dinner-worthy. Pan-seared garlicky chicken in a light lemon butter sauce with fresh thyme, spinach, artichokes, and parmesan cheese to make it cozy. Serve this chicken with crusty bread for dipping into that yummy lemon sauce! Add a salad on the side to round this meal out. Perfection! Make it on a busy weeknight or for casual company. Simple steps, big flavor, and easy to tweak with what’s in the fridge.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Familiar dip flavors in a full, satisfying meal.
- One-pan friendly with pantry staples; easy to adjust richness, spice, and add-ins.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: Chicken breasts will be leaner, but chicken thighs will be juicier and more forgiving. Pat very dry for better sear.
- Spinach: Fresh preferred, but frozen works too..thaw and squeeze very dry to avoid watering down the sauce.
- Artichokes: Marinated is best for flavor, canned can work too. Drain well; pat dry to prevent splattering.
- Creamy elements: Cream, cream cheese, or a splash of milk with grated Parmesan
- Acid & brightness: Lemon juice/zest or a spoon of brine from the artichokes to balance richness.
- Add a little heat: Red pepper flakes or Calabrian chili for warmth.
Recipe Inspiration
Spring recipes are here! I’m embracing this season we’re in, the longer days are just wonderful. The warming temperatures have me dreaming of summertime (and South Florida, which is where I would love to be right now). And all of the flowers that are growing left and right are so beautiful.
I love highlighting seasonal ingredients, and two of my favorites this time of year are spinach and artichokes. I haven’t shared many recipes with this combination of produce, so I’m always a happy girl when I have a new recipe to share!
This is a really great one-skillet saucy, lemony butter chicken. It’s a breeze to make any night of the week.
I like to serve this with warm ciabatta bread (the Whole Foods ciabatta is really great) and a fresh salad. The bread is a must, it’s delicious for dipping in the sauce.
Here Are The Details
Step 1: season the chicken
Salt and pepper the chicken. For this recipe, I use thinly sliced chicken breasts. You can also switch it up and use pork chops. I’ve actually made this both ways, and if you enjoy pork chops, they’re a great option.
Dredge the chicken through a mix of flour, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Step 2: sear the chicken
Working in an oven-safe skillet, sear the chicken over medium heat until it’s golden on both sides, then remove it from the pan.
Step 3: make the lemon butter sauce
In that same pan, add a few slices of butter, a sliced lemon, chopped garlic, and fresh thyme.
At this point, everything in the skillet should smell delicious. Let the butter cook until browned. Now add lemon juice and broth.
Mix in the spinach and artichokes.
Step 4: finish up the dish
Slide the chicken into the sauce and sprinkle over a handful of grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 5 to 10 minutes to finish cooking the chicken.
Now serve the dish as you desire and enjoy!! I threw some fresh herbs on top like basil or cilantro – whatever you have on hand. You could also add red chili flakes or capers for more flavoring. It’s a real crowd-pleaser and comes out of the oven looking pretty and smelling even more delicious.
Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, but also great for entertaining. It really brightens the table!
Variations
Lighter: Swap part of the cream for milk; finish with extra lemon and herbs (sauce will be thinner).
Dairy-free: Use full-fat coconut milk or a plant creamer; expect a slightly sweeter, less “cheesy” profile—counter with lemon and extra salt.
Add carbs: Spoon over orzo, rice, or pasta; the sauce will loosen on contact—reduce slightly beforehand for a thicker cling.
Extra veggie: Fold in peas or chopped roasted peppers for color and sweetness.
More heat: Chili flakes or a spoon of Calabrian chili paste.
Can I use frozen spinach?
Yes, thaw and squeeze out as much liquid as possible so the sauce stays creamy (frozen keeps a softer texture than fresh).
Chicken breast vs Chicken thighs – what’s better here?
Both work; thighs are juicier and more forgiving, while breasts are leaner. Use similar sizes for even cooking and a dry surface for better sear.
How do I keep the sauce from curdling?
Lower the heat before adding dairy, whisk until smooth, and avoid rapid boiling. If it splits, whisk in a splash of warm broth to emulsify.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Use a rich plant-based creamer or coconut milk and balance with extra lemon and salt; texture stays silky but flavor is less “cheesy.”
Looking for other easy weeknight dinners? Here are some favorites.
Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki and Potatoes
Browned Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Cheese Ravioli
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this Lemon Butter Spinach and Artichoke Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Lemon Butter Spinach and Artichoke Chicken
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 552 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets or small breasts
- salt and black pepper
- 1/4 cup all-purpose/gluten-free flour
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 lemon, sliced + 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- chili flakes
- 1/2 cup broth
- 1/2 cup salsa verde (optional)
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 jar (12 ounce) marinated artichokes, quartered
- 1/3 cup cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 400° F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour, onion powder, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl and dredge the chicken through the flour mix.2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and the chicken in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Sear on both sides until golden, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet.3. To the skillet, add the butter, lemon slices, garlic, thyme, and chili flakes. Cook for 2 minutes until the butter browns. Add the lemon juice, broth, salsa verde, if using, and spinach. Slide the chicken and any juices left on the plate back into the skillet. Add the artichokes. Pour in the cream. Simmer 2 minutes.4. Sprinkle over lots of parmesan, then bake for 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.5. Serve the chicken and sauce with fresh herbs.
This post was originally published on April 17, 2024
Delicious ❣️
Thanks so much, Kay!
Made this recipe for a SECOND time because the first was just so delicious that my sister had the bright idea of trying it with white fish instead of chicken. It is just as, if not better than the chicken. Thank you for your creative dishes as I cook through your blog on the daily 😊
Hey Veronica,
Amazing!! Great idea to use white fish instead of chicken, so glad to hear that this dish was a hit! xT
So easy so good!! 10/10
Hey Shay,
Happy Thursday! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Xx
This was amazing! We just love your recipes!
Thanks so much, Kate:) So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! xT
Absolutely Devine! I did cut down on the lemon juice and also the butter. My husband is not a strong lemon lover, but I am. I just added a bit more chicken broth. Served it over a bed of couscous and a side of asparagus. One of my favorites!
Hi Sally,
Love to hear this!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a hit! xT
Did YOU add the salsa verde? I’m wondering if I should or not. What does it do?
Hi Angela,
Yes, I added the salsa verde, I think it just adds another flavor dimension to the dish that I enjoy! Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
Add the verde!
This was delicious! Family loved it. Will definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipe
Hey Liz,
Happy Sunday! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
This was excellent and pretty easy to make! Love the fresh thyme, lemon and garlic. Really great, thank you!
Hey Linda,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it:) Have a great weekend! xT
Hi are you supposed to drain the artichokes?
Hey Tim,
Yes, you can go ahead and drain the artichokes:) I hope you love this dish, let me know how it turns out! xT
Thanks for asking this…I had the same question 🙂
I’m all out of cream – Could I substitute milk or coconut milk ?
Hey Lauren,
Of course, either of those would work for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was absolutely divine! Thank you so much for sharing your talent!
Thanks so much, Lynn:) Love to hear that this dish was enjoyed! xT
Can I use a Dutch oven to make this?
Hi Jennifer,
Sure, that would work well for you! Please let me know if you give this dish a try, I hope you love it! xT
so fresh and summery!
we added onions in with the garlic and herbs and added 1 cup orzo 1 cup chicken broth. turned out beautifully!
Hey James,
Perfect!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xT
My family really enjoyed this recipe – even the picky teens! We will be adding it to the week night options for sure. We served it with rice and it was a nice compliment.
One thing I might try next time is leaving out (or cutting back) the cheese and cream. It smelled so heavenly right as I was about to add those ingredients.
Hey Kristin,
So glad to hear that your family enjoyed this dish, thanks so much for making it and your comment! xT
Made this tonight and it was amazing. Agree that this is one of my favorite HBH recipes ever! Utterly delicious. Thank you Tieghan for this dish which will be on repeat!!!
Hey Susan,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! xT