One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus
A simple, bright-tasting main course where chicken and asparagus cook together in a lemon-dill sauce with minimal cleanup. This american-inspired one pot ready in about 30 minutes pairs (boneless, skinless) chicken thighs, (zested and juiced) lemon, (fresh, chopped) dill for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 300 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (boneless, skinless) chicken thighs
- 12 oz (trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces) asparagus
- 1 (zested and juiced) lemon
- 2 tbsp (fresh, chopped) dill
- 2 cloves (minced) garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add 12 oz trimmed asparagus and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet. Sauté for 2 minutes until asparagus is slightly tender.
- Step 3: Return chicken to skillet, add 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest. Simmer covered for 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and asparagus is tender-crisp.
- Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp fresh chopped dill and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (zested and juiced) lemon from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with One-Pot Lemon-Dill Chicken with Asparagus?
American one pot like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.
