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The fastest chicken dinner I’ve ever made started yesterday at 4pm, when we finally rolled through the door.
A sweaty group of kids fussing at each other. You know, the basic after-school mode.
And on Wednesdays — hooray! — there’s an extra hurdle to leap over: gymnastics starts at 5pm.
I don’t even have to crank up my AP high school math skills to figure this one out. (Also, I basically talked through all 4 years so my “skills” are pretty limited. Sorry, Mr. Gibbons.)
Anyway, I was all set to try a new sheet pan dinner tonight but my fears of running late won.
Shifting gears, I whipped up the following fast chicken dinner that was SO GOOD. Thumbs up all around.
Not bad for 12 minutes in the kitchen from start to finish.
10-Minute Buttery Chicken with Zucchini & Fresh Herbs
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The fast cooking time only works because chicken strips cook so quickly. If you want to use larger pieces of breasts or thighs, just cook the chicken for longer — at least 5 minutes per side.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
Ingredients
Scale
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 pounds chicken strips (uncooked chicken breasts sliced into strips)
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt for the chicken plus 1/2 teaspoon for the zucchini
2 zucchini or summer squash, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into half-moon shapes
zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
handful of fresh herbs, cut into small pieces (we used basil and parsley)
Instructions
Melt butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. While butter is melting, sprinkle lemon pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt on the uncooked chicken.
Place chicken strips in the hot pan and DON’T MOVE THEM. Cook for 3 minutes on one side then flip. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Now add the sliced zucchini/squash and stir.
Add the lemon zest, juice, olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir.
Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring often, until the zucchini becomes soft.
Sprinkle chopped herbs on top and serve.
Keywords: fast chicken dinner
This is one of the fastest, juiciest dinners I’ve made in a long time. With tons of flavor and very little effort — or complaints! My favorite.
More ideas our four kids love:
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Easy Homemade Sauce
- Healthy Microwave Oatmeal? 5-Minute Apple-Cinnamon with Real Fruit
- How to Make “Hard Boiled Eggs” in an Instant Pot (that Peel Easily Every Time!)
- Roasted Broccoli with Sea Salt; My Kids’ Favorite Way to Eat Broccoli