Description
Cajun chicken with garlic lemon butter sauce showcases bold Louisianan spices and creamy sauce. Savory seasonings and zesty citrus notes will delight palates and satisfy hunger for authentic Southern cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 tbsps Cajun seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps white wine
- 3 tbsps lemon juice (45 ml)
- 3 tbsps butter (42 g)
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Meticulously blend smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, Italian herbs, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and kosher salt in a mixing bowl to create a vibrant Cajun spice mixture.
- Chicken Coating: Thoroughly massage the Cajun spice blend onto both sides of chicken thighs, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Skillet Preparation: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes, creating an optimal searing surface, then drizzle with olive oil.
- Chicken Searing: Carefully place seasoned chicken thighs in the hot skillet, allowing them to develop a golden-brown crust undisturbed for 5 minutes.
- Cooking and Temperature Check: Flip the chicken, reduce heat to low-medium, and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when verified with a meat thermometer.
- Sauce Creation: Remove chicken from skillet, then introduce finely minced garlic, white wine, and freshly squeezed lemon juice to the same pan, letting ingredients meld and garlic soften.
- Sauce Finishing: Reduce heat to low, gently incorporate cold butter to create a silky, emulsified sauce, then return chicken to the skillet and coat generously with the aromatic garlic-lemon butter sauce.
- Final Touches: Season with a delicate sprinkle of salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous presentation.
Notes
- Spice Blending Tip: Create your Cajun seasoning mix ahead of time and store in an airtight container for quick, convenient meal preparation.
- Searing Secret: Allow cast iron skillet to heat thoroughly before adding oil to ensure perfect golden-brown chicken crust without sticking.
- Temperature Control: Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches safe 165°F internal temperature, preventing undercooking while maintaining juicy texture.
- Sauce Perfection: Remove skillet from direct heat when incorporating butter to prevent sauce from breaking, ensuring smooth, glossy consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg