One-Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
Simmered chicken in a lemon-garlic sauce with zucchini noodles for a light, weeknight-friendly dinner. This italian-inspired one pot ready in about 27 minutes pairs thinly sliced chicken breasts, medium, spiralized zucchini, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, 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, thinly sliced chicken breasts
- 3 medium, spiralized zucchini
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves, minced garlic
- 1, juiced lemon
- 1 tbsp, chopped dill
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken slices and cook for 5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 2: Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the skillet. Sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant. Add lemon juice, dill, sea salt, and black pepper; stir for 30 seconds.
- Step 3: Add zucchini noodles and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp, stirring frequently. Return chicken to the skillet, toss to coat, and heat through for 2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How long does One-Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles take to make?
Total time is about 27 minutes (15 min prep + 12 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 Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles?
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 thinly sliced chicken breasts from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in One-Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles?
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 Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). 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 Garlic Chicken with Zucchini Noodles?
Italian 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
- ★★★★★
A perfect weeknight dinner. So flavorful and quick to make. The zucchini noodles were a great low-carb substitute.
- ★★★★★
Absolutely amazing! The chicken was so tender and the sauce was the perfect balance of lemon and garlic. Will make again.
- ★★★★★
Easy and delicious. I made it for my family and they loved it. The one-pot method saved me so much cleanup.
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